Recognizing the Polynesian Voyaging Society and the Malama Honua Worldwide Voyage

Floor Speech

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Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, Hawaii's traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe Hokulea and her crew are in the Washington, DC, area this week as part of its Malama Honua Worldwide Voyage. I would like to congratulate and honor the Polynesian Voyaging Society for its work in bringing about this significant endeavor to raise awareness of global sustainability while sharing traditional Polynesian navigation practices and creating global relationships through cultural exchanges. Hokulea will voyage over 60,000 miles to 100 ports in 27 nations, including 12 Marine World Heritage sites identified by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.

Established in 1973, the Polynesian Voyaging Society developed a new generation of Polynesian navigators, perpetuating the teachings of Master Navigator Mau Piailug from the island of Satawal in the Federated States of Micronesia. The Polynesian Voyaging Society is largely credited with revolutionizing the perception of Polynesian- style voyaging as a sophisticated form of sailing and navigation.

In 1976, the Polynesian Voyaging Society completed construction of the double-hulled voyaging canoe named Hokulea, which translates to ``star of gladness.'' Hokulea is the first traditional voyaging canoe to be built in Hawaii in over 600 years and has since served as a cultural ambassador of Hawaii to the world.

Crew members observed patterns in the stars, sun, moon, wind, and ocean swells to guide Hokulea to Tahiti on her inaugural journey. The voyage demonstrated that Polynesian wayfinding methods could successfully be used to travel on long-distance journeys and revived a navigational method many assumed was lost.

In 2013, Hokulea and her sister canoe Hikianalia embarked on a journey around the State of Hawaii before commencing a 36-month worldwide voyage named Malama Honua, which means ``to care for our Earth.''

Since the journey began, Hokulea has visited 24 islands and six countries across Polynesia, Mauritius, South Africa, Brazil, and the East Coast of the United States, visiting States Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, New York, and Washington, DC.

I extend my deepest congratulations to the Polynesian Voyaging Society and the crews of Hokulea and Hikianalia and wish them smooth sailing as they continue the Malama Honua Worldwide Voyage.

I look forward to hearing of their many adventures upon completion of the voyage, and I encourage all of my colleagues to visit Hokulea while she is docked in Washington, DC.

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