Hikianalia Homecoming: Update #3 – Arrival Plans

Update #3:  The arrival ceremony  has been confirmed for 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 16 – public invited. 

Hikianalia is nearing home shores after over a year of sailing throughout the Pacific Ocean. Crewmembers are expected to arrive in Honolulu on Tuesday, June 16 weather dependent. The public is invited to help celebrate the return of crewmembers, which include apprentice navigators who are using traditional non-instrument wayfinding techniques to guide Hikianalia home.

Hikianalia departed 21 days ago from Tahiti, coming through the doldrums to a critical juncture for these young apprentice navigators. Austin Kino, Jason Patterson and Kekaimalu Lee will be called upon by their teachers, including the leg’s lead navigator Cat Fuller, to make a series of crucial determinations in the next few days.

“Last night, we had a really clear night. We were able to measure the Southern Cross and Hokupaʻa (North Star), and we came to the consensus that we were right about 18°-18.5° North latitude, which would put us in the latitude around South Point (Hawaii Island). So we feel like we are in Hawaiian waters,” said Patterson.

“The decision that we are faced with today is when to make our turn to go straight west and to go looking for the islands. We have a couple of really skilled crewmembers onboard like Uncle Snake Ah Hee who knows what to look for and can teach us what to look for to search for the islands.”

The homecoming celebration is planned for Tuesday, June 16 at 5 p.m.* at the Marine Education and Training Center at 10 Sand Island Parkway, Honolulu. (* Note that the expected arrival date continues to be weather dependent and attendees are urged to follow the tracking map on Hokulea.com or follow us on social media @hokuleawwv for the latest updates).

Hikianalia is returning home to Hawai‘i to bring the education promise of the voyage back to the local community. Hikianalia will sail throughout the state, hosted by the leaders of the ‘ohana wa‘a (voyaging community) on each neighbor island, to provide experiential learning opportunities to teachers and students over the course of the next year. Hikianalia will then sail the west coast of the United States before reuniting with Hōkūleʻa in South America to finish the worldwide voyage together.

To track the progress of Hikianalia in her final days before reaching Honolulu, visit: www.hokulea.com/track-the-voyage

Please help keep us sailing for future generations. All contributions make a difference for our voyage. Mahalo nui loa!