Latest news with #PolynesianVoyagingSociety
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Aloha Authentic Ep 508
In this episode of Aloha Authentic, host Kamaka Pili welcomes cultural practitioner and 8th-generation weaver Keoua Nelsen to share his ʻike of lauhala. Keoua shares how his journey began under the guidance of his grandmother. Like many, he had a hard time getting the hang of the actual weaving. When frustration set in, he offered to help his grandmother gather leaves and material for her to weave. What seemed like a pause in learning became a foundational lesson. For Keoua, understanding where the leaves come from, how they grow, and the energy they carry is even more important than the weaving itself. He explains that the color of a hala leaf isn't just about the plant, it's shaped by its environment. Soil, minerals, water, and even weather all affect the quality and appearance of the leaf. Lauhala was originally woven for functional uses like mats, pillows, and baskets. Today, it is still rooted in tradition, however it has taken a more decorative role with its complex patterns and designs. As an 8th-generation weaver, Keoua carries a proud legacy. He recalls how his grandmother and her sisters were once asked to help recreate a lauhala sail for the Polynesian Voyaging Society. While honored, they respectfully declined. The challenge was too great given the complexity of the task. To bring the episode to life, Keoua walks Kamaka through a basic weaving technique to make a bracelet, a small but meaningful hands-on experience that ties together tradition, storytelling, and practice. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Hōkūleʻa's trans-Pacific voyage delayed
HILO, Hawaii (KHON2) — Voyaging canoes Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia have delayed their departure from Hilo due to weather conditions. The pair of boats were scheduled to sail out of Hilo on June 2, but they are now scheduled to depart on the morning of June 3 to continue their Moananuiākea Voyage across the ocean. Big Island police investigating overnight shooting The decision to delay the voyage was made by the Polynesian Voyaging Society after they found that the weather on June 3 would be more favorable weather conditions for sailing. Once departed, the boats will visit hundreds of ports and be away from Hawaiʻi for approximately three years. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Hokule‘a, Hikianalia depart after 2-day weather delay
After a two-day delay caused by hazardous ocean conditions, the Polynesian voyaging canoes Hokule 'a and Hikianalia departed early Monday morning from Mauliola—commonly known as Sand Island—en route to Hilo. The canoes launched at approximately 5 a.m., taking advantage of a safe and favorable weather window to cross the Alenuihaha Channel. The channel, which lies between Maui and Hawaii island, is known for powerful currents and strong winds and is considered among the most dangerous in the Pacific. The Polynesian Voyaging Society postponed the originally scheduled Saturday morning departure to ensure crew safety. The Hokule 'a and Hikianalia are expected to arrive in Hilo on Wednesday afternoon, where a public cultural arrival ceremony is scheduled to begin around 4 p.m. at the Grand Naniloa Hotel. The event will follow traditional arrival protocols and is open to the public. According to PVS, the delay reflects the organization's ongoing commitment to safety and cultural practices, which include close observation of weather and ocean conditions before launching each leg of the Moananuiakea Voyage. The four-year Moananuiakea Voyage aims to sail approximately 43, 000 nautical miles, visiting 36 countries and archipelagos, nearly 100 indigenous territories and more than 345 ports. An estimated 400 crew members from Hawaii and throughout the Pacific will participate in the voyage, which promotes Indigenous knowledge, ocean conservation and global collaboration. While in Hilo, the crew will take part in several community events designed to foster learning and connection. Weather permitting, the Hokule 'a and Hikianalia are tentatively scheduled to depart Hilo on May 30 to continue their journey to French Polynesia, the next major stop on the Moananuiakea Voyage. The following events are planned in Hilo in coordination with Hawaii County and the Island of Hawaii Visitors Bureau, Grand Naniloa Hotel and local community :—Welcome ceremony tentatively scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Grand Naniloa Hotel—Public dockside engagement 3-6 p.m. Thursday at the Grand Naniloa Hotel—'Hokule 'a Ho 'olaule 'a, ' 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Wailoa Boat Harbor, makai side of the Wailoa Bridge, near Suisan Fish Market The event will include canoe tours, music, cultural demonstrations and food vendors.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
The said it couldn't be done. Native Hawaiians proved them wrong
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Long before satellites or sextants, Polynesian voyagers explored one of the largest bodies of water on Earth. They did this with no compass, no GPS. They only had a deep knowledge of the winds, the stars and the ocean swells. That legacy lives on through Hōkūleʻa, a modern-day double-hulled sailing canoe that has reawakened a culture and inspired a global movement. More than a canoe: Hōkūleʻa's future is here 'The idea for us to be able to have this opportunity to observe this important part; it was observed by our ancestors,' said Chris Blake, crew member of the Hōkūleʻa and longtime volunteer with the Polynesian Voyaging Society. 'They tracked not only the movement of the sun, the stars, the weather patterns, the winds, the waves. And they had a great understanding of the language of nature.' Whether you're new to voyaging or grew up watching the sails of Hōkūleʻa rise over the horizon, here are six essential things to know. Blake said it simply: 'It was never known then, it's just really unique to us here in Hawai'i. But they purposefully circumnavigated the vast Pacific Ocean.' Polynesian ancestors were skilled navigators who had already explored the ocean centuries before Western explorers 'discovered' them. 'We believe that all of the people who are of Native Hawaiian descent here are descendants of the navigators,' Blake said. 'Our ancestors knew that the Earth was round. They did that through their observations.' They followed the sun and stars across thousands of miles of open ocean, using signs from nature to find new islands. 'They reached the limits,' said Blake as he described the knowledge handed down through generations. 'There are places like Mokumanamana that align perfectly with the 23.5 degrees north latitude. Our ancestors visited that place.'Launched in 1975 from Kāne'ohe Bay, Hōkūleʻa marked a cultural turning point. She was built in the image of the ancient wa'a kaulua, a double-hulled canoe once used to explore and settle Hawai'i. The canoe's name means 'Star of Gladness' and comes from the Hawaiian zenith star Arcturus. She was designed by artist and historian Herb Kawainui Kāne, whose dream reignited pride in Native Hawaiian identity. 'When Hōkūleʻa was launched, it was more than just the canoe,' said Blake. 'Along with it came the renewal of our language, our dance, our chant, our culture.' Hōkūleʻa wasn't just about where we came from. It became a vessel for where we are going. 'There's this idea of a language of nature,' said Blake. 'Our ancestors understood this, and it's what we're trying to keep alive today.' Modern wayfinding was revived and taught by master navigator Mau Piailug and carried forward by Nainoa Thompson. It is more than steering a canoe. It requires observation, patience and a deep connection with the environment. Navigators memorize the stars, watch the position of the sun, read ocean swells and track cloud movement. 'We observe. We interpret. We trust,' Blake said. And it's a skill that takes years to develop. 'It's not just learning the signs. It's living with them,' he added. Hōkūleʻa to stop in Hilo before traveling the world 'Next month, it's going to be the northernmost trek,' Blake said about the summer solstice. 'That's when the sun travels furthest north based on our orbit. After that, it begins to move south.' Ancient Hawaiian navigators tracked this yearly journey. 'They knew about places like Mokumanamana,' said Blake, 'an island that's right around the 23.5 degrees north latitude. It's a marker in our understanding of the sun's path.' That place, and others in Papahānaumokuākea, were visited, studied and honored by voyagers for centuries. 'It separates the realm of the kanaka [the human world] from that of the akua, our gods or ancestral spirits,' said Blake. The vision of Myron 'Pinky' Thompson, a former president of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, lives on every time Hōkūleʻa takes to the ocean. It's about where she goes, but it's also about how she goes. 'He said our ancestors had to have a vision of the island before they even saw it,' Blake recalled. 'They planned. They prepared. They experimented. And most importantly, they cared for one another.' That message, Blake said, is universal. 'You find these same values throughout the world: seeking, planning, experimenting, taking risks and the importance of caring for each other,' Blake said. 'The same principles we used in the past are the ones we use today, and the ones we'll use into the future.' Sister canoe Hikianalia was built with sustainable technology and science tools. She and Hōkūleʻa travel together, sometimes parting ways to reach new audiences, always carrying the same core mission. 'These canoes aren't just replicas,' said Blake. 'They are moving classrooms, places where we share knowledge, and where we teach students and people of all ages.' From Tahiti to Aotearoa, from Rapa Nui to Alaska, Hōkūleʻa has brought together people across the Pacific and around the world. 'When we arrived in Pape'ete Harbor, more than 17,000 people came out. That was a spontaneous affirmation of what a great heritage we shared,' Blake said. You can click to learn more about the Hōkūleʻa, its history and its future. Hōkūleʻa is more than a canoe. She is a symbol of memory, knowledge and the hope that guides us forward. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHON's morning podcast, every morning at 8 'The sun, the stars, the ocean: they are always speaking,' said Blake. 'The question is, are we listening?' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
Public sends off the crew of Hokule‘a, Hikianalia
RELATED PHOTO GALLERY Dozens of people gathered under gray skies and intermittent rain Friday morning at Mauliola—also known as Sand Island—for a public blessing and send-off ceremony as the Polynesian Voyaging Society prepares to relaunch the Moananuiakea Voyage, a four-year, 43, 000-nautical-mile journey across the Pacific Ocean. The event took place at the Marine Education Training Center, where the public was invited to offer farewells to the voyaging canoes Hokule 'a and Hikianalia before they depart Hawaii for the next leg of their global sail. Departure is currently scheduled for early Sunday morning, though the timeline remains weather-dependent. The canoes will first stop in Hilo for community engagement and final preparations. Weather permitting, the crew plans to depart Hilo for French Polynesia on May 29 or 30. Among those present for Friday's ceremony were about 20 preschoolers from Kulaniakea's School of Nature and Hawaiian Immersion, accompanied by four teachers. The students—ranging in age from 19 months to 6 years—opened the event with an oli, or chant, for Hokule 'a, protocol and inviting others to offer hookupu, or gifts, to the crew and canoes. Kulaniakea teacher Kaula Tauotaha said the school centers Hawaiian language, culture and values in its curriculum. Students are taught primarily in 'olelo Hawaii and learn traditional practices both indoors and outdoors—including aboard a double-hulled sailing canoe that serves as a classroom. 'Now we have two double-hull sailing canoes that they practice sailing on, ' Tauotaha said. Lessons in Hawaiian navigation are also integrated into the indoor classroom. Many of the students had previously welcomed Hokule 'a home from a prior voyage between California and Alaska—an experience that strengthened their connection to the canoe. 'They had only seen pictures of Hokule 'a, ' Tauotaha said. 'They practiced protocol so they were ready to receive her, but it was the first time they actually got to see her in person and the scale of how big she really is.' Now, with more time and experience, that connection has deepened. 'They're a lot older now, ' she said Friday. 'They've developed a different relationship with Hokule 'a … There's so much excitement and pride. The students are confident and they're very prepared for today.' Tauotaha said watching the ceremony was especially meaningful, knowing how much has changed across generations. 'We're very proud of them, ' she said. 'It's one of those things—a couple of generations ago, it wasn't something that you could see or wasn't allowed.' She added that the students not only carry the kuleana of speaking 'olelo Hawaii and practicing culture within their families, but also help inspire others. 'They have this power to inspire others, which they've done in many ways.' Since returning to Hawaii at the start of 2024, PVS crew members have used the pause in the voyage to deepen their training and community outreach. Over the past six months, they completed a statewide sail, visiting 25 ports and reaching more than 12, 000 students across the islands. They also voyaged to Lahaina several times, participated in the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture and celebrated Hokule 'a's 50th birthday in March. Crew member Jonah Apo said the time at home was far from idle. It allowed for more intensive preparation and meaningful engagement with communities and keiki before continuing the journey. The Moananuiakea Voyage, which began in Juneau, Alaska, in June 2023, was paused in December after Hokule 'a returned from San Diego due to hazardous El Nino conditions and the impacts of the Aug. 8, 2023, Maui wildfires. Apo said the voyage is about much more than sailing—it's about building connections across the Pacific and amplifying shared values. 'A lot of it is just spreading … the importance of the oceans, especially the Pacific Ocean, the one that we call home, ' Apo said. 'It's that massive ocean that really doesn't separate us, but connects us.' The four-year journey is expected to include about 400 rotating crew members, sailing in groups of 10 to 12 per leg. Participants span a range of ages and backgrounds from Hawaii and across the Pacific. 'Being a part of that overall voyaging family is really fun, ' Apo said. He emphasized the need to educate the next generation about voyaging traditions—which, until recently, were not commonly taught in schools. 'It's important for even every student, no matter how young they are, to learn about voyaging and understand its importance in our culture, ' he said. 'Being able to carry on this tradition that's not only something of the past, but also something that we've been continuing ' is part of the long-term vision, he added. Reflecting on his earlier journey to Alaska during the first leg of the Moananuiakea Voyage, Apo said reconnecting with northern Indigenous communities highlighted the deep relationships Hokule 'a has forged over decades. 'These are all connections that were made because of the canoe, and connections that are older than I am, ' he said. Sailing alongside glaciers and through snow-capped mountain landscapes, he added, was 'something pretty surreal.' Navigator Lehua Kamalu said she plans to join the leg of the voyage from Hilo to Tahiti, currently expected to depart in late May or early June, pending conditions. Kamalu called the Moananuiakea Voyage one of the most ambitious since Hokule 'a's Worldwide Voyage, which ran from 2013 to 2017. That journey began with a sail throughout the Hawaiian archipelago before the canoe circumnavigated the globe, returning home in June 2017. She noted that the voyage offers a major opportunity for young leaders like Apo to gain real experience and take on more responsibility. 'This is really their opportunity to actually get some experience and training out on these deep voyages, ' Kamalu said, adding that many seasoned voyagers who began 15 to 25 years ago are now mentoring the next generation. With Hokule 'a marking its 50th anniversary, Kamalu said the focus is increasingly on the future. 'There's never a bad time to be out, ' she said. 'The work is continuous.' She said the guiding principle of Moananuiakea—'this is all one ocean and one large community '—remains at the heart of the effort. Strengthening ties between Hawaii and other Pacific communities is as vital as the voyage itself. 'There are things that happen on the water. There is community organizing on land, ' Kamalu said. 'What's really valuable is that they all see one another, meet one another, and start to build relationships with these communities that will continue to support this network of voyaging and islands into the next 50 years.' Following the planned arrival in French Polynesia, the canoes will spend four weeks visiting the sacred marae of Taputapuatea and other locations including Papeete, Mataiea, Moorea and Tautira. The voyage will then continue on to the Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga and Aotearoa (New Zealand ) later this year. Future legs in 2026 and 2027 are expected to include Melanesia, Micronesia, Palau and parts of Asia such as the Philippines ; Taiwan ; Okinawa, Japan ; South Korea and China. In 2028, the canoes will sail to Mexico, Central and South America and Rapa Nui before returning to Tahiti and ultimately home to Hawaii. Altogether, the Moananuiakea Voyage will visit 36 countries and archipelagos, nearly 100 Indigenous territories and more than 345 ports. It represents a continuation of traditional navigation and a renewed commitment to shared stewardship of the Pacific Ocean.
