Well-wishers bid ‘A hui hou’ to Hokulea
HONOLULU — Well-wishers, along with Gov. Josh Green, Polynesian Voyaging Society CEO Nainoa Thompson, Pwo navigator Bruce Blankenfeld, crew members and supporters gathered on Sand Island on Saturday to wish Hokulea a safe journey with the sounding of the pu (the blowing of the conch shell), oli (chant) and pule (prayer).
It was a day to connect as crew members from previous voyages came to bid farewell to Hokulea and shared their stories. People of all ages asked questions of crew members such as how do you get fresh water to how do you find the North Star, and individual crew members shared personal experiences with guests who had the opportunity to board Hokulea and Hikianalia.
Together with his family, Gov. Josh Green offered a lei to Hokulea and talked story with crew members past and present.
“We must support Hokulea,” Gov. Green said, addressing the crowd. “For 50 years now, Hokulea has been a symbol or our cultural pride, our values. It is what can bring us together. That, I think, is what we should remember. Hokulea can bring us together in ways that I think almost nothing else can in our beautiful state.”
