KZN hosts Hokulea

Friday 23 OctoberThe vessel Hokulea had sailed from Richards Bay at 05:00 on Friday morning and as the vessel has no motor power, they had made prior arrangements with the Durban NSRI to assist her into port on her arrival. The NSRI tracked her progress through the day via the use of their website.At 17:00 the rescue boats Eikos Rescuer II and Megan II were launched and rendezvoused with the Hokulea and her support vessel approximately 3 NM from the Durban Harbour.The Hokulea was taken under tow by the Eikos Rescuer II and towed into the port of Durban and assisted onto a mooring at the International Jetty in the Yacht Basin.The Durban crew were proud to be a small part of this historic vessels journey. The Hōkūlea is met by Sea Rescue off Durban to be escorted into the port.Information used from the Hōkūlea website:HōkūleaOn March 8, 1975, Hōkūlea, a performance-accurate deep sea voyaging canoe built in the tradition of ancient Hawaiian wa‘a kaulua (double-hulled voyaging canoe), was launched from the sacred shores of Hakipu‘u-Kualoa, in Kāne‘ohe Bay on the island of O‘ahu. She was designed by artist and historian Herb Kawainui Kāne, one of the founders of the Polynesian Voyaging Society. The canoe was named Hōkūle‘a (“Star of Gladness”), a zenith star of Hawai‘i, which appeared to him growing ever brighter in a dream. This launching was one of many events that marked a generation of renewal for Hawai‘i’s indigenous people. Along with the renewal of voyaging and navigation traditions came a renewal of Hawaiian language, dance, chant, and many other expressions of Hawaiian culture. The renewal represented a new-found respect and appreciation for Hawaiian culture, by all of Hawai’i’s people. For the Hawaiian people, it has meant that they once again have begun to feel proud of who they are, and where they come from.During that generation of voyaging (1975-2000), Hōkūle‘a sailed on six major voyages from Hawai‘i, at the apex of the Polynesian triangle, to Aotearoa (New Zealand) at the southwestern corner, and finally to Rapa Nui, at the southeastern corner. Her voyages inspired a revival of canoe building and voyaging throughout Polynesia. Hōkūlea at a Glance: Built in Honolulu, Hawaii and launched on March 8, 1975Has sailed over 140,000 nautical miles across the PacificLength: 62 feetWidth: 20 feetHōkūlea is the Hawaiian name for the star Arcturus For the crew of Hōkūlea, South Africa marks the most ambitious leg of the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage yet. From her home in Hawai’i to her first port of call in Richards Bay, Hōkūlea is voyaging 10,000 nautical miles (19,000 kilometers). This historic occasion is the first time Hōkūlea and the Polynesian Voyaging Society will have touched the African Continent.Now, almost halfway around the world from their home port, Hōkūlea and her crew will be looking to Africa, the cradle of civilization, for indigenous and local wisdom to further the message of global connectedness, sustainability, and to help create a future that includes healthy oceans.Mālama honua, the guiding value of the voyage, in Hawaiian means “caring for island earth.” It is a message similar to South African ubuntu philosophy of community and caring. When Hōkūkea stops at Richards Bay in October, and Cape Town in November, her crew will be searching for local examples of mālama honua and sharing these stories of hope with communities around the world.