Ho’omaika’i ‘Ana (Congratulations) to the Hōkūle’a and her crew on the successful and safe epic three-year undertaking of the Mālama Honua (caring for Island Earth) Worldwide Voyage on all of the legs of this unprecedented global circumnavigation of a wa’a (canoe).
The Mālama Honua sail plan included port calls to more than 150 ports, 23 countries and territories, and eight of UNESCO’S Marine World Heritage sites, engaging local communities and practicing how to live sustainably.
It is a vision realized that exceeded any expectations in accomplishing a myriad of elements to include, but was not limited to; demonstrating well-conceived and executed traditional Polynesian wayfinding, educational programs and a heightened awareness of critical environmental issues, concerns regarding climate change, depletion of finite marine resources, and the paramount need to protect our planet’s fragile ecosystems with achievable and sustainable initiatives.
The Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage has served as the catalyst with global partners in a collective commitment and sense of urgency, coupled with the realization for the commonly shared concerns we have for our one ocean that connects all of us and sustains life.
The traditional double-hulled wa’a (canoe) has returned to homecoming celebrations in Hawai’i greeted by a gathering of nearly 50,000 people to celebrate the Hōkūle’a and Polynesia Voyaging Society’s accomplishments the past 40+ years and the conclusion of the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage.
As a global consultancy we are proud to have played our part in the iconic vessel’s historic voyage of discovery.
The Maritime Group (TMG) Pacific helped to provide logistics support for the Hōkūleʻa and her safety escort vessel, Gershon II – including critical logistical support/supplies, nautical/weather routing guidance, assisting with arrangements with port agents and officials, and ensuring the safety of the craft and crew worldwide for the Polynesian Voyaging Society.
This included helping with the Hōkūleʻa passage across the Indian Ocean with its port calls to South Africa, arrangements for a port call at the British Overseas Territory of St Helena in the mid- Atlantic to gather supplies before the Hōkūle’a made the trans-Atlantic crossing to Brazil, in addition to assisting with the planning and logistics support for the Hōkūle’a transit of the Panama Canal and return to Pacific waters.
Hōkūleʻa, meaning ‘Star of Gladness’ and the Hawaiian name for the star Arcturus, and her crew entered the marina at Honolulu’s Magic Island peninsula on Saturday June 17, 2017.
Her crew have sailed more than 42,000 nautical miles (77,800 kilometres) since their departure from the island of Oahu, Hawai’i in May of 2014.
Their aim was to use only ancient methods of wayfinding – reading the stars, winds and waves – just as the first Polynesian settlers who reached the archipelago did hundreds of years ago.
Bill Anonsen, Hawaii-based managing partner/principal of TMG Pacific and a member of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, has previously described the Hōkūleʻa as a ‘symbol of inspiration, demonstrated in the spirit of exploration and rediscovery thorough a resurgence of traditional ocean voyaging and navigation’.
Bill shared that, ‘It is a vision realized that exceeded any expectations in accomplishing a myriad of elements to include, but was not limited to; demonstrating well-conceived and executed traditional Polynesian wayfinding, educational programs and a heightened awareness of critical environmental issues, concerns regarding climate change, depletion of finite marine resources, and the paramount need to protect our planet’s fragile ecosystems with achievable and sustainable initiatives.
The Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage has served as the catalyst with global partners in a collective commitment and sense of urgency, coupled with the realization for the commonly shared concerns we have for our one ocean that connects all of us and sustains life.’ He added that all at TMG were honored to be playing our part in providing nautical and logistical guidance in support of the Hōkūleʻa.
Read more about her homecoming in a news story on the UK’s Daily Telegraph website.