08-03-2025
More than a canoe: Hōkūleʻa's future is here
HONOLULU (KHON2) — It's more than just a canoe. Hōkūleʻa has been a movement and her future is here.
Birthed from the worldwide voyage of Hōkūleʻa and Kikianalia in 2014, Mālama Honua Public Charter School fulfills the vision of creating leaders who embody the mind of the navigator and values of the voyage.
Hōkūleʻa: Decades of Discovery
'Our vision is to have keiki that are grounded in Hawaii first and foremost, and that part of that Mālama Honua is that they're part of their community, active members and to help to implement pono solutions within their community,' said Jessica Piiohia, Mālama Honua Kumu 5th grade.
Kānehūnāmoku Voyaging Academy partnered with Malama Honua so students could take what they learned in the classroom and put it into practice on the open ocean.
'I've been able to witness some kindergarteners become sixth graders today and seeing their comfortability grow on the canoe is very moving,' said Malanai Kane Kuahiwinui, Kānehūnāmoku Voyaging Academy program coordinator.'Maybe when the first time they come on the canoe, they're afraid of the water. Maybe they're afraid of getting on the canoe. But come sixth grade, after seeing them every single year at the canoe once and seeing them in the classroom each week, you can see that they become comfortable with the people, the space that we're in and the canoe herself.'
Students are learning what it means to be wayfinders in every sense and the journey continues at sea and on land.
'When you're sailing, it's kind of hard because when you're trying to pull the rope to close the sail, that's kind of hard because you need to be strong,' said Lion Spencer, Mālama Honua 5th grader.
Hōkūleʻa: A legacy started by three dreamers
'Instead of going into 'āina and thinking that the 'āina is ours, we share. And that's where the reciprocal relationship comes in and the protocol is a huge part of that,' said Layna Perry Mālama Honua PCS 8th grader.
Through the legacy of Hōkūleʻa, students are learning to lead with purpose — to take care of the Earth.
'We grew all of this and I think it's just really nice knowing how to grow for yourselves and the experience of getting physical and hands on. It's just fun and educational and everything in between.'
It's believed that you're never too young to instill the values and mindset of a navigator, laying the foundation at three and four years old.
Training of the next generation of navigators and leaders includes embracing technology to expand globally.
Check out more news from around Hawaii
The legacy of Hōkūleʻa is not just in the journeys she has taken, but the hands that will guide her into the next 50 years.
These students and navigators are ready to lead, not just across the ocean, but into a future built on the values of the ancestors: connection, responsibility and sustainability.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
