In Kaneohe, Hawaii, the Hawaiian language was banned in schools by the American colonizers in the past. Some Native Hawaiians attempted to lighten their skin with lye. Many believed that Polynesian voyagers stumbled upon the islands by drifting on logs by luck. However, a canoe launched fifty years ago played a pivotal role in transforming Hawaiian culture from a source of shame to one of pride. This double-hulled sailing canoe, named Hokulea after the Hawaiian name for the star Arcturus, revived the ancient skill of navigating the seas by interpreting the stars, waves, and weather. Its influence even extended to the Disney film “Moana” years later.
To commemorate the anniversary, the early crew members of Hokulea gathered for ceremonial hula and kava drinking at the Oahu beach where the canoe set sail on March 8, 1975. Nainoa Thompson, the CEO of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, described Hokulea as a vehicle of exploration, discovery, and justice for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.
Thompson, now 71, recalls the repression of Hawaiian culture, with stories passed down from his grandmother who faced punishment for speaking Hawaiian. A resurgence of Hawaiian pride in the late 1960s and 1970s sparked a cultural revival. Artist Herb Kane’s paintings of ancient canoes inspired the construction of Hokulea, challenging the prevailing belief that Polynesians reached islands accidentally.
The Polynesian Voyaging Society, led by Kane, Ben Finney, and Tommy Holmes, sought to debunk the drifting log theory by sailing a canoe to Tahiti without modern instruments. They enlisted navigator Pius “Mau” Piailug from Micronesia, who guided Hokulea from Hawaii to Tahiti in 1976, a journey akin to traveling from Hawaii to California. This successful voyage revived traditional long-distance voyaging skills and reshaped historical narratives, inspiring a newfound appreciation for the rich heritage of the Hawaiian people.
The spaceship of our ancestors, known as Hokulea, made a significant impact in Hawaii back in 1978. Former Hawaii Governor John Waihe‘e, who was a delegate at the state Constitutional Convention at the time, noted that Hokulea’s success inspired the declaration of Hawaiian as an official state language, along with the establishment of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to support Native Hawaiians. This move instilled a sense of purpose and belief in the community.
Today, Hawaiian language immersion programs are available in two dozen schools, and Census data indicates that over 27,000 people in Hawaii and 34,000 in the U.S. speak Hawaiian at home. The journey of Hokulea has brought dignity to the elders and revitalized traditional wayfinding practices in various Pacific Island communities.
In 1978, Hokulea faced challenges during a voyage to Tahiti, but the crew’s determination led to a transformation within the voyaging society, setting clear goals and improving training standards. After overcoming obstacles, the canoe successfully navigated to Tahiti in 1980, fulfilling the dream of crew member Eddie Aikau, who tragically went missing during a rescue attempt.
The impact of Hokulea’s voyages has extended beyond Hawaii, reaching places like New Zealand, Japan, South Africa, and New York. The canoe’s journey has inspired other Pacific Island communities to embrace their own navigational traditions, emphasizing the deep-rooted connection to their ancestors.
The influence of Hokulea even reached Hollywood when Disney released “Moana” in 2016, a film that highlighted the importance of wayfinding and Pacific culture. Through collaborations with the Polynesian Voyaging Society, key elements of traditional navigation were incorporated into the movie, further spreading the legacy of Hokulea and its significance in preserving ancient seafaring knowledge.
