New York officials and Native American tribes welcomed the Hokule‘a and her crew during an arrival ceremony early this morning in Manhattan.

The Hawaiian voyaging canoe arrived in North Cove Marina on Saturday, a day earlier than planned due to rainy weather and dangerous water conditions expected today.

The Hokule‘a and her crew are in New York “to bring the voyage to the United Nations” for this year’s World Oceans Day on Wednesday. The theme this year is “Healthy Oceans, Healthy Planet.”

“The crew, led by pwo (master) navigator and Polynesian Voyaging Society President Nainoa Thompson, will bear witness to the immense need to care for our oceans and share stories of hope they have witnessed during their journey around the world thus far,” the society said in a news release.

Since departing from Hawaii in May 2014, the Hokule‘a has sailed some 26,000 miles through five oceans and 27 countries in the first two years of its ongoing global voyage, dubbed “Malama Honua,” which the Polynesian Voyaging Society translates as caring for “Island Earth.”

“We bear the weight of tremendous privilege and responsibility, having this opportunity to speak on behalf of the incredible people we have met and inspiration we have felt as we have sailed, visiting communities throughout the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans,” Thompson said.

“We are sailing to New York not just to share Hokule‘a and her inspiring legacy, not just to share these stories of great navigators and bring to light the issues facing our oceans and people,” he added. “We are sailing to deliver declarations from people and places that are dedicating themselves towards action and commitment.”

On Wednesday, Thompson is scheduled to present UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Palau President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr. with ocean protection declarations from around the world that have been presented to the crew during their worldwide journey.