The volyaging canoes Hokule‘a and Hikianalia’s will travel to Hilo from Oahu next week before setting sail for French Polynesia. They could head to Hilo as early as Monday.
After assessing the long-term weather forecast, the Polynesian Voyaging Society leadership team determined the best time for the canoes to depart from Hilo for Tahiti would be sometime between April 6 and April 8.
The “Kealaikahiki Voyage” will focus on leadership, navigational training and cultural protocol to prepare the crew and test the canoes before they embark on the Moananuiakea Voyage next year.
While in French Polynesia, voyaging leaders will also be participating in the Blue Climate Summit, a high-level meeting to discuss ocean protection and climate change. The canoes are tentatively scheduled to arrive in Papeete, Tahiti, on April 30.
As part of PVS’ succession plan, next-generation voyaging leaders will captain and navigate the two canoes from Hilo to Tahiti. Lehua Kamalu will captain Hokule‘a. On this voyage she will become the first woman to captain and navigate a canoe from Hawaii to Tahiti.
On Hikianalia, Pwo navigator Bruce Blankenfeld will be training two captains, Kaniela Lyman-Mersereau and Kaleo Wong. The deep-sea leg is designed to train crew who will become the captains and navigators who lead the Moananuiakea Voyage.
“2022 is truly a building year for (Polynesian Voyaging Society),” said Pwo navigator and PVS CEO Nainoa Thompson. “With this Tahiti Voyage and through July we will be conducting 8,000 miles of deep-sea leadership training focused on captains and navigators who will take the canoes around the Pacific for the Moananuiakea Voyage.
“If the state of COVID-19 allows it, we will train 220 new crew members from the end of this voyage through 2023,” he continued. “We plan to sail 3,000 miles around the state, connecting with schools and communities in 25 different ports.”
In addition to immersive navigational and crew training, one of the main purposes of the “Kealaikahiki Voyage” is to follow the ancient voyaging protocol of sailing to the sacred navigational heiau of Taputapuatea in Ra‘iatea, French Polynesia, to seek permission to launch a major voyage.
Taputapuatea’s cultural elders will conduct highly sacred ceremonies to affirm the Kealaikahiki sea road and to consecrate Hokule‘a and Hikianalia as sacred vessels of heritage carrying the mana (spirit) of Polynesia throughout the vast Pacific on the Moananuiakea Voyage.
Following the cultural ceremonies in Tahiti, Thompson will co-convene The Blue Climate Summit, which will be held in French Polynesia on May 14-20 to accelerate ocean-related solutions to climate change.
The Blue Climate Summit is an endorsed action of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and is co-hosted with the Government of French Polynesia. More than 250 leaders, scientists, engineers, community, business, youth, policymakers, conservationists and influencers are expected to come together to accelerate solutions to some of the greatest challenges facing humankind.
With regards to the COVID-19 pandemic, PVS’ medical team has been closely following case numbers and information, and have updated and will continue to update its plans and protocols accordingly. The voyage to Tahiti has been postponed three times over the last two years due to the pandemic.
Hokule‘a and Hikianalia are scheduled to return to Oahu around June 15.