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pvs.hawaii.org
Education and Archive Site Dedicated to Myron Bennett "Pinky" Thompson (1924-2001), updated: May 14, 2008 |
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Our Vision Hawai'i, our special island home, is a place where the land and sea are cared, and people and communities are healthy and safe.
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Our Mission With a legacy of ocean exploration as its foundation, the Polynesian Voyaging Society reaffirms our commitment to undertake voyages of discovery; respect and learn from our heritage and culture; and strengthen learning which integrates voyaging experiences into quality education. We are committed to nurturing communities and the leadership therein which values learning and sharing knowledge in order to foster living well on islands. |
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The Legacy (pdf download): Since 1976, Hokule‘a has completed ten successful voyages and is recognized today as a major catalyst for cultural renewal throughout the Pacific and a symbol of the richness of Hawaiian culture and a seafaring heritage that links the peoples and cultures of Polynesia and the Pacific together as ‘ohana. To make a donation to the Polynesian Voyaging Society, print out the pdf form below. PVS Donation Form (pdf download) |
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Current News & Announcements visit the PVS weblog at http://pvshawaii.squarespace.com/ |
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Hokule‘a left Honolulu, O‘ahu, on January 11, 2007 to meet up with Alingano Maisu at Kawaihae, Hawai‘i. The two voyaging canoes and the escort boat Kama Hele departed for the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, and Japan on January 23, from Kealakekua Bay. Hokule‘a and Alingano Maisu, a gift for navigator Mau Piailug, reached Satawal, Mau's home island, via Majuro, Pohnpei, and Chuuk, on March 15.
After sailing with Alingano Maisu to Woleai, Ulithi, Yap, Palau, and back to Yap, Hokule‘a left for Okinawa, Japan, on April 12, and arrived there on April 22. She continued on to Amami Island, Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Fukuoka, Iwaijima, Oshima, Hiroshima, Uwajima, Muroto, Miura, and Kamakura before completing the voyage with her arrival in Yokohama on June 9. For reports and photos, see the PVS 2007 Voyages Weblog. For background, see 2007 Voyage to Micronesia and Japan: One Ocean, One People. The voyage to Micronesia by Hokule‘a and Alingano Maisu is in honor and appreciation of the achievements and legacy of Navigator Mau Piailug. For background on the voyage (January-March 2007), see Ku Holo Mau / “Sail On, Sail Always, Sail Forever.” Hokule‘a’s voyage to Japan (April-June 2007) celebrated over 125 years of historical connections and intercultural exchanges between Hawai'i and Japan since King David Kalakaua visited Emperor Meiji in 1881. For background on the voyage, see Ku Holo La Komohana / “Sail On to the Western Sun.” |
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Celebrating over Three Decades of Voyaging, Since 1975 What Makes Hokule'a Special, Valuable, and Unique? Views from the Crew
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In Memoriam As the first generation of voyaging passes, we remember ... From the first voyage to Tahiti in 1976: Captain Kawika Kapahulehua (1930-2007) / Andy Espirto / Tommy Holmes (1945-1993) / Douglas “Dukie” Kuahulu (1937-2007) / David Henry Lewis (1917-2002) / Keani Reiner / Rodo Williams And subsequent voyages: Wright Bowman, Jr. (1943-1997) / Dave Lyman (1944-2006) / Mike Tongg (1944-2007) / Eddie Aikau (1946-1978) / Clement “Tiger” Espere (1946-2005) / Clay Bertelmann (1947-2004) (list incomplete; under construction)
Hokule‘a sailing out of Kawaihae, 2007 Voyage to Micronesia. Photo by Kathy Thompson |
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About the Polynesian Voyaging Society PVS was founded in 1973 to research how Polynesian seafarers discovered and settled nearly every inhabitable island in the Pacific Ocean before European explorers arrived in the 16th century. Some scholars have argued that the Polynesian drifted to these islands by accident; PVS set out to show that a voyaging canoe of Polynesian design could be navigated without instruments over the long, open ocean migration routes of Polynesia. Since 1975, PVS has built and launched two replicas of ancient canoes--Hokule‘a and Hawai‘iloa--and completed six voyages to the South Pacific to retrace migration routes and recover traditional canoe-building and wayfinding (non-instrument navigation) arts. The voyages sponsored by the Polynesian Voyaging Society have provided a wealth of information for scientists, anthropologists and archaeologists about traditional Polynesian migrations, documenting one of the greatest achievement of humanity--the exploration and settlement of islands in an area of over 10 million square miles during a period of over 1,000 years. At the same time, as Hokule‘a and Hawai‘iloa traveled throughout Polynesia, they inspired among Polynesians an increased awareness and native pride in their seafaring heritage. They also sparked a revival of canoe building and sailing, arts that had not been practiced in over a hundred years. Hokule`a, the first modern replica of a voyaging canoe to make the voyage from Hawai'i to Tahiti and back, became a symbol of the richness of Polynesian culture and the seafaring heritage which links together all of the peoples of the Pacific. This website is a service of the Polynesian Voyaging Society. All writings and graphics are copyrighted by the Polynesian Voyaging Society, except those that are in the public domain or those used with the permission of the copyright owners. Acknowledgements: PVS Banner by Olomana Marketing; paintings by Herb Kawainui Kane; electronic graphics by Tim Chun; drawings by Melanie Lessett and Helene Iverson; photos by Monte Costa, Anne Kapulani Landgraf, Doug Peebles, Moana Doi, and various crew members of Hokule'a and Hawai'iloa. Send comments and questions about the website to dennisk@hawaii.edu; send inquiries about the Polynesian Voyaging Society to pvshawaii@hawaiiantel.net or to 10 Sand Island Parkway, Honolulu, HI 96819. Phone: (808) 842-1101; FAX: (808) 842-1112. |