Voyage Update | June 20, 2021: Young Navigators Sight Nihoa

(Papahānaumokuākea) — On this summer solstice, the five young Hōkūleʻa navigators training on the “Navigating the Kupuna Islands” Voyage to Papahānaumokuākea successfully found Nihoa this morning at 8:30 am. They were approximately 35 miles out when they sighted the island.

The five young navigators in training are:
● Jonah Apo
● Dillyn Lietzke
● Kai Hoshijo
● Lucy Lee
● Nalamaku Ah Sing

After departing Sand Island at 4:00 p.m on Friday, June 18, Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia made their way to Kaena Point and then crossed the Kaʻieʻie Waho Channel (Kauaʻi Channel) between Oʻahu and Kauaʻi at an average speed of seven knots. The crew had clear skies and the stars Hōkūpaʻa and Hōkūleʻa were visible to help guide their way. They also observed other signs from nature including bioluminescence, lightning and many Manu o Kū before spotting Kauaʻi.

From Kauaʻi, the crew headed for Niʻihau. Last evening, the canoes positioned themselves north of Niʻihau and Lehua (a crescent-shaped island north of Niʻihau) to find Nihoa. The next leg for the young navigators will be from Nihoa to Mokumanamana, the most challenging navigational test, comparable to finding an island about two-thirds the size of Manana (Rabbit Island) from Kona with no land in between.

The “Navigating the Kupuna Islands” Training Voyage is the second in a series of deep-sea training sails to prepare crew for the Moananuiākea Voyage, a circumnavigation of the Pacific scheduled to launch in May 2022. The 42-month, 41,000 mile journey will cover 46 countries and archipelagoes, nearly 100 indigenous territories and 345 ports. Focused on the vital importance of oceans, nature and indigenous knowledge, the goal of the Moananuiākea Voyage is to develop 10 million new crew members, navigators and leaders for the planet.

About Polynesian Voyaging Society

The Polynesian Voyaging Society was founded in 1973 on a legacy of Pacific Ocean
exploration, seeking to perpetuate the art and science of traditional Polynesian voyaging
and the spirit of exploration through experiential educational programs that inspire
students and their communities to respect and care for themselves, one another, and
their natural and cultural environments. For more information about the Polynesian
Voyaging Society and the Worldwide Voyage, visit www.hokulea.com or find us on
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