PVS Premiers New Documentary and Launches 2021 Membership Drive

“He Wa’a, He Honua – The Earth Is Our Canoe” premiers Saturday, November 14, on KGMB and will be featured along with a live panel at the Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF).

The Polynesian Voyaging Society is kicking off its 2021 Membership Drive with the premier of “He Wa’a, He Honua – The Earth Is Our Canoe,” on Saturday, November 14, on KGMB. The film also will be featured online at Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF), along with a live panel discussion focused on renaissance.

The one-hour documentary produced in partnership with ‘Ulu’ulu, Hawai’i’s moving image archive, pays tribute to the sweeping cultural renaissance that began in the 1970s and will continue with a movement of environmental revitalization led by Hōkūleʻa and Hawai’i. The film looks back at the people and actions that reclaimed language, land, voyaging and other cultural practices and invites viewers to join Hōkūleʻa in the next renaissance – that of Island Earth. The special includes archival footage from many of Hōkūleʻa’s well-documented voyages, interspersed with commentary from past, present and future leaders.

The film shares a message that even as we all cope with the uncertainty created by the global pandemic, we see the continued impacts of human activity on our environment and our planet, and we feel an imperative to continue our work to Mālama Honua (care for Island Earth).

In addition to the premier airing of “He Wa’a, He Honua – The Earth Is Our Canoe” on Saturday, Nov. 14, 7 pm (HST) on KGMB, the show will air as follows (HST):

*Sunday, Nov. 15, 7 to 8 pm on KGMB and KFVE
*Monday, Nov. 16, 7 to 8 pm on KFVE
*Sunday, Nov. 22, 9 to 10 pm on KHNL

The program also will be LIVE steamed on Sat. Nov. 14, 7- 8 pm (HST) via www.hokulea.com, www.hawaiinewsnow.com and will be available on all HNN digital platforms (desktop, mobile, Roku, OTT).

Hawaii International Festival (HIFF) will present the film along with a series of five past Hōkūleʻa documentaries for free of charge online at www.hiff.org, Nov. 16-29. On Friday, Nov. 20, 7 pm HIFF will present a live panel discussion featuring some of the renaissance leaders from “He Wa’a, He Honua – The Earth Is Our Canoe,” including Nainoa Thompson, Walter Ritte, Dr. Emmett Aluli, Governor John Waihee, Bruce Blankenfeld and Larry Kimura, as well as representatives from the next generation of leaders. See details on the HIFF presentation here.

Mahalo nui loa to the sponsors of “He Wa’a, He Honua – The Earth Is Our Canoe”:

Hōkūleʻa Sponsors:
Kamehameha Schools
Dawson

Hikianalia Sponsors:
Hawaii Tourism Authority
HEI, Hawaiian Electric, American Savings Bank
Julie Ann Wrigley ASU Global Futures Laboratory

Wayfinder Sponsors:
Ward Village
Zephyr Insurance

Voyager Sponsors:
Matson
Arizona State University
OluKai
Tim Johns

PVS hopes to encourage support for the voyage and educational campaign by becoming a PVS member. For more information about the Polynesian Voyaging Society, membership and the airing of “He Wa’a, He Honua – The Earth Is Our Canoe,” visit www.hokulea.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.