The Polynesian Voyaging Society’s Canoe, Hokule‘a, Arrived in Eureka This Morning
The Polynesian Voyaging Society’s canoe, Hokule‘a, docked at Humboldt Bay at the foot of F Street in Eureka. [Photos by Donald Wilkes]
The Voyage seeks to honor the rich indigenous cultures of the Pacific and foster a global movement toward a more sustainable future through a comprehensive education campaign. According to Hawaiian Public Radio, this monumental journey will see approximately 400 crew members navigating the vessel through 36 countries around the Pacific.
One of the central objectives of the voyage is to highlight the importance of indigenous knowledge and science in understanding the ocean’s role in maintaining a healthy Earth. Earlier this month, a groundbreaking partnership between the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) and the Polynesian Voyaging Society was announced. This collaboration aims to monitor phytoplankton and water quality during Moananuiākea’s circumnavigation of the Pacific. According to VIMS, This fusion of indigenous knowledge, scientific expertise, and student engagement is anticipated to deepen our understanding of the oceans and their critical role in maintaining a healthy Earth.
The planned route for the Moananuiākea Voyage covers the U.S. West Coast, Mexico, parts of South America, Polynesia, New Zealand (Aotearoa), Micronesia, Japan, and many more Pacific nations. 
Over the next four years, the Moananuiākea Voyage promises to inspire and educate people worldwide about the interconnectedness of our world and the imperative to protect it. 
UPDATE: Video of the Voyage:
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Polynesians, some of the greatest navigators the world has know.
Epic voyages using the sun, stars, and other natural cues.
…wave patterns from distant islands!
How long will it be docked here? Over night?
It will be here at least through to tomorrow.
I am no expert, but I am pretty sure that boat won’t hold 400 people…
They rotate in
I was being a smartass 🙂
I think they mean, like, 400 crew members over the course of their entire cruise, changing people out at each port they stop in.
So cool! I’d like more info on the boat and crew. How long is it, rowed or sailed? How many crew members at a time? Looks small to fit 400 mentioned in the article.
Ah, dude, now, this is totally bitchin’! I so wish I was there in Eureka to go to the dock and meet the crew. See, these are the sort of stories I like to read on this site, not that all the other stuff isn’t important. But, man, big two-masted canoe, sailing all over the Pacific. How cool is that? Anybody know if they’re planning to sail down here to the Cesspool (Long Beach/San Pedro/Orange County)? I’m a do a little plunkin’ around, try to find out.
Check out the Viracocha saga! These guys sailed a reed boat from Chile to Easter Island..
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Viracocha_expedition
There was a book published on the first successful attempt. An almost-funny (actually-hilarious?)outcome not mentioned in the Wikipedia post is that upon waking from their celebratory first night on Easter Island, they looked across the harbour and saw a huge column of smoke! The authorities torched the boat! For ” invasive species” concerns. Nothing to do with the fact that Chile still claimed Easter Island as a territory, and nobody on the Island cared for a West-East, South America to Eastern Polynesian migration theory! They tried two more unsuccessful expeditions…skipping Easter Island!
Do you mean Thor Heyerdahl and the Kon-Tiki?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kon-Tiki_expedition
Wait, I see now from your link that the Viracocha saga was inspired by Thor Heyerdahl and the Kon-Tiki..
Eddie would go!
Eddie Aikau. The Polynesians arrived in North America very long ago. Chumash. PNW potlatch. Olympic Peninsula. Geometric pattern art. It all leads to one conclusion – they probably discovered North America prior to the known documented Columbus voyage.
I knew a yurok lady that told me their oral history of polynesians once landing near the mouth of redwood creek and being allowed to stay. Makes since since a historical route for early explorers returning from the east indies was to head north into the sub arctic gyre and then come down the coast with the prevailing current, generally making landfall somewhere between the columbia river and cape mendocino or in coastal alaska if that was their destination.
Whoa! Coincidentally I listened to a podcast on National Geographic about them this afternoon. So surprised to see this, didn’t know they would stop here. Hope I get off work before they depart
They are supposedly staying at least til Thursday!
The latest I heard tonight (Tuesday) from the boat’s security guard, is that the ‘dignitaries’ of Eureka and Humboldt will come to meet the ship and the crew at 10AM Wednesday. Also, that the crew plans to leave either Thursday night, or may be delayed by weather till Friday morning.
Let’s hope the crew gets some excellent pakalolo while in Humboldt! 😉
Far out. Got room for one more?
They will be giving tours, answering questions today, Wednesday from 2-5pm. Foot of F street