After 5 days in the community of Tautira – a second home of the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) and legendary canoe Hōkūleʻa – the crews of Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia bid a warm goodbye to their Tahitian voyaging ʻohana and departed on the final historic leg of the Worldwide Voyage: sailing home to Hawaiʻi.

The people of Tautira have been the Tahitian caretakers of the canoes and crews of PVS since Hōkūleʻa’s maiden voyage in 1976. Upon arrival in Tautira, the crew payed homage to the family ties so important to the shared voyaging heritage of Hawaiʻi and Tahiti, visiting the grave sites of leaders who helped build the connection more than forty years ago. The crews were hosted at Mayor Papa Sane’s home and welcomed as family in this voyaging community so closely held to Hawaiʻi’s own.

The evening of Wednesday, May 17, Hōkūleʻa, sister canoe Hikianalia, and escort vessel Gershon II began the final leg of the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage departing from Tahiti to head back home to Hawaiʻi. This last, historic stretch of the sail plan is expected to take 3-4 weeks (pending weather). The canoes will make a celebratory return to Honolulu on Saturday, June 17 at Magic Island for a cultural welcoming ceremony followed by a grand celebration open to the entire community.

The week-long celebration will continue with the Mālama Honua Fair and Summit, a three-day event at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center , which will highlight the voyaging, cultural, environmental, educational, and health and well-being missions of the Worldwide Voyage by sharing mālama honua “stories of hope” and voyage-inspired initiatives and activities with the public. The event’s inspirational speaker series will feature local and global speakers who have engaged with the Voyage including: Megan Smith, 3rd chief technology officer of the United States; Dieter Paulmann, founder of Okeanos Foundation for the Sea; and Ocean Elders Sylvia Earle, Jean-Michel Cousteau, and Don Walsh. Registration for these events is now open at www.hokulea.com/summit.

Hōkūle‘a Homecoming:
Event registration is live!

Join thousands of supporters and fans to welcome Hōkūleʻa home to Hawaiʻi in June 2017! Register now for the Mālama Honua Summit, reserve your tour aboard Hōkūleʻa, and RSVP for the Polynesian Voyaging Society benefit dinner.

Register for Homecoming Events Now!