RAROTONGA, COOK ISLANDS (KHON2) — The Polynesian Voyaging Society announced that the Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia will be continuing the Moananuiākea Voyage to Aotearoa, NZ.
The Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia are estimated to arrive at Te Tii Bay on Nov. 14, weather permitting. This will be the Hōkūleʻa’s third time sailing to Aotearoa. The last visit was in 2014 during the Worldwide Voyage.
The next leg of the voyage marks the historic return and 40th anniversary of Hōkūleʻa’s first landfall in Aotearoa. When the canoe landed at Waitangi in 1958, it gave birth to the Hawaiian tribe Ngāti Ruawāhia and ignited a Māori voyaging revival.
“Aotearoa, land of the long white cloud, I mean, an extraordinary place. It is a powerful definition of our country, Polynesia,” PVS CEO Nainoa Thompson said. “They reminded us about how much and how connected they are to their earth, to their oceans, to their place, and the things that they fortify in their world that they bring into the 21st century.”
Once the Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia arrive, they plan to stay in Aotearoa for six months to complete crew and leadership training, canoe maintenance and educational activities. This extended six-month stay is also for the canoes to wait out the South Pacific hurricane before continuing the voyage.
“So we want to use this time very wisely in the time that we are there and see if we can do one thing, bring our Polynesian people together, especially from the voyaging communities, train together, work together and look at the transition of leadership to the next 50 years,“ Thompson said.
To follow the Moananuiākea voyage, please visit the website for live updates or @hokuleacrew on Facebook and Instagram.