Polynesian voyaging and Hōkūleʻa

The first Hawaiians arrived by double-hulled voyaging canoe from other Polynesian islands, navigating thousands of miles by stars, swells and birds. In 1976 the canoe Hōkūleʻa proved it could be done again: guided by master navigator Mau Piailug without instruments, it sailed from Maui to Tahiti in about a month, sparking a rebirth of Hawaiian pride. 2026 marks the voyage's 50th anniversary.

• Settlement: Polynesian voyagers reached Hawaiʻi centuries ago, bringing kalo (taro), sugarcane, pigs and dogs on their canoes.
• The 1976 voyage: Hōkūleʻa left Honolua Bay, Maui, on May 1, 1976, sighted Mataiva 31 days later and reached Papeʻete, Tahiti, on June 4, where more than 17,000 people greeted it.
• Navigator: Pius 'Mau' Piailug of Satawal, Micronesia, one of the last masters of traditional wayfinding, guided the voyage and later trained Hawaiian navigators such as Nainoa Thompson.
• Since then, Hōkūleʻa has sailed around the world, including a worldwide voyage that reached South Africa in 2015. It is operated by the Polynesian Voyaging Society.
• See it: when it's home, Hōkūleʻa usually docks at the Marine Education Training Center on Sand Island, Honolulu; check the Polynesian Voyaging Society for public events.

Sources: Hawaii Tribune-Herald: 50 years after Hōkūleʻa's first voyage (May 4, 2026) · Wikipedia: Polynesian Voyaging Society

Last checked Nov. 1, 2026. Hours, fees and rules can change, so confirm with the official source before you go.