HONOLULU (HI Now) - ʻIolani Palace is throwing a special Sunday celebration honoring the Hōkūleʻa and Hawaiian voyaging traditions, and it’s shaping up to be a big one. This year is extra meaningful, it’s the Palace’s 60th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of Hōkūleʻa’s legendary first voyage to Tahiti back in 1976. Paula Akana, President and CEO of the Friends of ʻIolani Palace, put it perfectly, calling Hōkūleʻa and ʻIolani Palace “the land and the ocean icons of our culture.”
There’s plenty to do for the whole family. The Polynesian Voyaging Society will be on-site with hands-on activities like knot-tying, seamanship skills, and model canoe kits kids and adults can build together. You can also sign a “Voyage for Earth” pledge card as part of a Pacific-wide environmental commitment. And here’s the coolest part, actual crew members from the historic 1976 voyage, including Billy Richards and Snake Ahi, will be there to talk story about what it was really like on that first journey to Tahiti.
The fun doesn’t stop there. Two hālau will be performing, navigator ʻŌnohi Paishon is flying in from Hawaiʻi Island to play music, and the first 500 kama’āina get free audio tours of the Palace. Head to www.iolanipalace.org for the full schedule and details.
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