Legendary voyaging canoes Hōkūleʻa, Hikianalia and their crews were welcomed by the Mahina community on April 14, 2017. The crews enjoyed performances of traditional song and dance from people of all ages during the arrival celebration hosted on the shores of Mahina, which is near Papeete in Tahiti.

The arrival was filled with the true meaning of aloha. “You could feel it from the canoe. The community here was overwhelmingly happy and thrilled with love in their hearts that Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia were there,” says Kalā Tanaka, captain and navigator of Hikianalia. Adorned with welcome wishes and lei, the crews were treated to a front row celebration of traditional song and dance.

The arrival in Tahiti marks the reconnection of Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia. The sister canoes were last together in Aotearoa (New Zealand) in the spring of 2015. “We started his voyage together and now we end this voyage together,” says Bruce Blankenfeld, master navigator of Hōkūleʻa.

View the entire celebration from TNTV:

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Hōkūle‘a’s visit to the eastern United States is a historic milestone in her 40 years of voyaging.

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