HONOLULU (KHON2) — Nainoa Thompson, CEO of the Polynesian Voyaging Society announced the details of Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia’s next major voyage on Tuesday, March 21.
After five years of preparations and planning for the Moananuiākea Voyage, PVS announced that they will be circumnavigating the Pacific and arriving in Juneau, Alaska on June, 10.
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Hōkūleʻa, Hikianalia and about 400 crew members will sail an estimated 43,000 nautical miles around the Pacific, visit 36 countries and archipelagoes, nearly 100 indigenous territories and more than 300 ports.
PVS goal is to start a movement of 10 million “planetary navigators” by developing young leaders and engaging communities all through the world.
The voyage is a global educational campaign that amplifies the importance of indigenous and ocean knowledge through storytelling and education that will be virtually shared through a virtual “Third Canoe” called Waʻa Honua.
“This is about not just the oceans, but this is about taking discovery and moving it towards choices and moving it towards the choices that will take action that we believe is going to help build a future that is good enough for our kids,” said Thompson.
The journey to Alaska will start on April 16.
Hōkūleʻa’s sister canoe Hikianalia will join the voyage in Seattle, WA in August of this year.
Sailing plans (subject to change):
- June to September 2023 – Alaska, British Columbia, Seattle
- September to November 2023 – West Coast of the United States
- January to February 2024 – Mexico, Central America, South America
- March – December 2024 – Exploring the largest country in the world, our country, Polynesia
- December 2024 to May 2025 – Aotearoa
- May to March 2026 – Melanesia, Micronesia and Palau
- March to September 2026 – West Pacific, ending in Japan
- September to December 2026 – Shipping from Japan to Los Angeles then sailing home to Hawaiʻi
- Spring 2027 – Tahiti
