The Hokulea
Hokulea is the canoe that recaptured thevoyaging spirit of the Hawaiian people. The Hokulea is a voyagingcanoe. Although pictures of the canoe were difficult to find, therewere people that were able to use the existing drawings andengineering concepts to help build a seaworthy sailing vessel. HerbKane, Ben Finney, Tommy Holmes and Rudy Choy designed and
The Hokulea is avoyaging canoe built by the Polynesian Voyaging Society to sparkpride and interest in ancient voyaging traditions among the Hawaiiancommunity.
It was built in 1973-1975 and was launched inMarch 1975.
The difference between the Hokulea and theancient polynesian voyaging canoe is it's length. The Hokulea isapproximately 30-40 feet long but the ancient voyaging canoe wasabout 100 feet long.
Other canoes have been made because of thedesire and love of sailing. Today there are canoes used forclassrooms also, but we must be aware that nature is more powerfulthen the toughest men in the world.
Preparing for the voyage is not just a physicalexercise but a mental exercise too. As a crew member you know youwon't see your family for over a month. You know you won't have theluxury of doing the things you usually do. You know that the voyageis in the Pacific Ocean and it is one of the strongest and thelargest oceans in the world.
In 1978, the Hokulea was very heavy. That nightthe boat flipped over in rough water. The crew did not have a radioso they could not call for help. A plane was passing by when they sawthe canoe and radioed the Coast Guard.