“The outpouring of support from the local students, community and leadership demonstrates the pride Hawaii has in Hokule‘a as well as the focus we have to help raise awareness of the issues impacting the world’s oceans,” said Archie Kalepa, Hokule‘a captain and OluKai konohiki (caretaker), who is pictured third from left. PHOTOS COURTESY OF OLUKAI.

WEST MAUI – OluKai, the Hawaiian-inspired lifestyle brand, and its nonprofit, the Ama OluKai Foundation, will continue a multi-year partnership with the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) by supporting the Mahalo, Hawai’i Sail.

The six-month interisland journey kicked-off on Aug. 16, when the voyaging canoe Hokule’a sailed from Honolulu to Honolua Bay.

This latest voyage is meant to bring the people of Hawaii together, share lessons learned from the Malama Honua Worldwide Voyage that the Hokule’a recently returned from, and turn inspiration into action to protect Hawaii and island Earth.

“For Hokule’a to return to Honolua Bay 41 years later is a turning point in the Malama Honua movement,” said Archie Kalepa, Hokule’a captain and OluKai konohiki (caretaker).

During the first stop in Honolua Bay, crewmembers from the Hokule’a engaged with more than 1,200 students from Kamehameha Schools Maui and the community through presentations and canoe tours.

Honolua Bay was chosen as the first stop on the sail because it is the location where Hokule‘a launched for her maiden voyage in 1976 to Tahiti, the first voyaging canoe navigated celestially in more than 600 years. 

Five-thousand koa trees and other native plants were also planted in the Pu’u Kukui Watershed Preserve, the largest private nature preserve in the State of Hawaii.

The preserve spans more than 9,000 acres on Maui’s West Side and is home to some of the most rare and endangered flora and fauna in the islands.

The planting of the koa trees occurred because at one time, they were used to make voyaging canoes. Today, there are few left that are large enough to do so.

This give back effort, with support from OluKai and the Ama OluKai Foundation, drew more than 500 volunteers and community leaders and will help reestablish the koa tree in Hawaii.

The Mahalo, Hawai’i Sail will continue throughout the rest of 2017 and into 2018, engaging close to 100 Hawaii communities with stops at approximately 40 ports within the island chain.

Some 5,000 koa trees and other native plants were planted in the Pu‘u Kukui Watershed Preserve during Hokule‘a’s visit.

For more information on the Mahalo, Hawai’i Sail and for photos of the first leg of the journey, visit www.hokulea.com/.