Temporary traffic pattern planned for Banyan Drive in Hilo Saturday

There will be a temporary one-way traffic pattern along a portion of Banyan Drive this Saturday to accommodate “Hilo’s Hōkūleʻa Ho’olaulea” event this Saturday.

The Hōkūleʻa Ho’olaulea will celebrates Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia with a dockside engagement at Wailoa Small Boat Harbor off Lihiwai Street.

During this event, Lihiwai Street from Kamehameha Avenue to Banyan Drive will be closed and a one-way traffic pattern will be in place on the portion of Banyan Drive adjacent to Liliʻuokalani Gardens from 6 a.m.-4 p.m.

The one-way traffic will flow in the makai, or northerly, direction on Banyan Drive between the intersections of Lihiwai Street and Banyan Drive near Suisan Fish Market and Banyan Drive and Lihiwai Street near Hilo Hawaiian Hotel.

The south bound lane on Banyan Drive adjacent to Lili’uokalani Gardens will be closed to through traffic and the traffic pattern on Lihiwai Street particularly from Moku Ola will remain the same.

The Hoʻolauleʻa will be a special celebration to honor Hōkūleʻa, Hikianalia, and their crew before the canoes continue their voyage to French Polynesia, the next stop on their journey around the Pacific.

“We are honored to welcome Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia to Hilo as they embark on the next leg of the Moananuiākea Voyage,” said County of Hawaiʻi Mayor Kimo Alameda. “This visit is an opportunity to celebrate our heritage of exploration while deepening our shared responsibility to the ocean that connects all of us. Together, these canoes carry the hopes, values and spirit of Hawaiʻi.

“We look forward to extending our heartfelt aloha to the crew as they sail across the Pacific Ocean inspiring the next generation of navigators and stewards of our planet,” he said.

Depending on weather conditions, Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia are tentatively scheduled to depart Hilo for French Polynesia on May 30.

The Moananuiākea Voyage will traverse approximately 43,000 nautical miles, visiting 36 countries and archipelagos, nearly 100 indigenous territories, and more than 345 ports. The voyage involves around 400 crew members from Hawaiʻi and the Pacific.

The Polynesian Voyaging Society recently celebrated the 50th birthday of Hōkūleʻa on March 8. The milestone marks a half-century of cultural revival, environmental advocacy, and a renewed connection to the earth and ocean.

For the latest updates on the Moananuiākea Voyage visit hokulea.com and @hokuleacrew on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.