May 1, 2020 is the 44th Anniversary ofʻdeparture for Hōkūleʻa’s maiden voyage to Tahiti from Honolua Bay, Maui. That day in 1976 was the first time in 600 years that a Polynesian voyaging canoe sailed deep sea. It would take them 34 days to reach Tahiti. Crewmember Billy Richards who was part of that first crew reflects on that historic day of departure 44 years ago.