John Kruse recalls Hōkūlea’s first landfall at Mataiva in 1976

Forty-four years ago today (June 1, 1976), Hōkūleʻa and crew made the first landfall at Mataiva on their maiden voyage to Tahiti. 1976 Hōkūleʻa crew member John Kruse shares his recollections of sighting land for the first time and their time on Mataiva. 1976 video footage courtesy of Billy Richards.