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Last May, I wrote about
the Polynesian Voyaging Society’s plan to sail around the world on the
storied Hawaiian voyaging canoe, Hōkūle‘a. What’s even more incredible
than the sail plan is that this voyage – which spans 5 years – will be
done almost entirely using traditional Polynesian navigation methods.
This knowledge, otherwise known as ‘wayfinding’, involves the use of only one’s natural surroundings (stars, clouds waves, wind, etc) to guide them. Needless to say, a voyage like this has never been undertaken before.
However, despite the uniqueness of the Worldwide Voyage (WWV), this
journey is not about merely navigating a 62ʻ’x20’ double-hulled canoe to
circumnavigate the globe. In fact, if the story of the WWV were
simply about making it safely around the world, then the voyage would be
considered largely unsuccessful. Rather, at the core of this amazing
endeavor is the idea of stewardship; an idea that is cultural at heart,
but ultimately universal.
If we truly wish to leave a better world for our children, then we had better start taking care of it. As sustainability becomes more and more of a global concern, the members of the Polynesian Voyaging Society recognize that this is an issue that islanders have dealt with for as long as they can remember.
Therefore, the voyage has been given the name Mālama Honua, or
“caring for Island Earth”, with a specific emphasis on the idea that
this planet is an island in its own way, and that there are lessons of
sustainability we can learn from island communities. It is this reason
that makes it worth it for us to sail across 47,000 nautical miles over
the next four years, using these canoes as vessels for delivering the
message.
Thus far, Hōkūle‘a and her sister canoe, Hikianalia, have completed
the first leg of the voyage – a 2,495 nautical mile sail around the
Hawaiian Islands. In total, the canoes visited 33 communities and
interacted with over 20,000 people, including 175 schools. All of this
was done to ensure that “Hawai’i sails with us”, acknowledging that
every journey begins at home and the support we get from our home
communities will give us strength when we need it most.
Hōkūle‘a’s Worldwide Voyage: Island Wisdom, Ocean Connections, Global Lessons from Hōkūle‘a Crew on Vimeo.
I will be providing monthly updates on this voyage between now and the expected departure date in May, 2014.
This knowledge, otherwise known as ‘wayfinding’, involves the use of only one’s natural surroundings (stars, clouds waves, wind, etc) to guide them. Needless to say, a voyage like this has never been undertaken before.
If we truly wish to leave a better world for our children, then we had better start taking care of it. As sustainability becomes more and more of a global concern, the members of the Polynesian Voyaging Society recognize that this is an issue that islanders have dealt with for as long as they can remember.
Before and after each sail, crew members get together and say a Hawaiian Pule, or prayer. (Photo by Daniel Lin)
WWV Sail Plan (Courtesy of Polynesian Voyaging Society)
Hōkūle‘a’s Worldwide Voyage: Island Wisdom, Ocean Connections, Global Lessons from Hōkūle‘a Crew on Vimeo.
I will be providing monthly updates on this voyage between now and the expected departure date in May, 2014.
