The crew of Hokule‘a will be given a warm welcome Monday when the Polynesian sailing canoe docks at the Grand Naniloa Hotel in Hilo.
The arrival, which occurs during the Merrie Monarch Festival, will mark one of the last legs of its statewide mahalo voyage, and nearly four years since it left Hilo Bay on its historic voyage around the world in May 2014. The crew completed the 42,000-mile voyage last June.
After leaving Kailua-Kona on Sunday, the double-hulled canoe is scheduled to arrive at 11 a.m. Monday, according to a spokesperson for the Polynesian Voyaging Society.
At the welcoming event, there will be music by Lito Arkangel and a proclamation from Mayor Harry Kim, said George Applegate, who does community relations for Naniloa.
Students from Keaukaha Elementary School will perform a mele for the crew, and the crew will perform a mele in return, he said.
Masters of ceremony for the event are Patrick Kahawaiola‘a and Snowbird Bento.
The Hokule‘a crew, including the original crew that made the voyage to Tahiti in 1976, will be honored at the Merrie Monarch.
Hokule‘a will be here until April 28. Free dockside tours will be held from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. April 21 at Wailoa Harbor.
The canoe will be docked at Kawaihae Harbor from April 28 to May 10; tours will be held there from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. May 5.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.