Hokule‘a makes its way up New England coast
COURTESY OIWI TV / POLYNESIAN VOYAGING SOCIETY
Visitors came to check out the Hokule‘a in Salem, Mass., on Sunday. The voyaging canoe left Salem later in the day, headed for Portsmouth, N.H. Before leaving, the crew was given a behind-the-scenes tour of the Peabody Essex Museum’s Oceanic Arts and Culture Gallery, which is currently closed to the public due to renovations. Among the exhibits are 5,000 Hawaiian objects that form one of the most important collections of its kind outside of Hawaii.
COURTESY OIWI TV / POLYNESIAN VOYAGING SOCIETY
A kupee, or anklet, made of boar tusks.
The voyaging canoe Hokule‘a continued its Malama Honua Worldwide Voyage on Saturday with a journey from Salem, Mass., to Portsmouth, N.H.
The crew left Salem at 6:30 a.m. Hawaii time and arrived 7-1/2 hours later in Portsmouth, where it was greeted by members of the Cowasuck Band of the Pennacook-Abenaki People, led by Chief Paul Pouliot.
On Sunday the crew hosted canoe tours in Newcastle.
Hokule‘a will remain in Portsmouth until Tuesday, when it leaves for Portland, Maine.
During the Salem stop, the crew was given an inside look at the Peabody Essex Museum’s Oceanic Arts and Culture Gallery, which is closed to the public for renovations.
The museum includes some 20,000 objects from more than 36 island groups in Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia. The collection includes 5,000 objects from Hawaii, among them one of three surviving statue images of the Hawaiian god Kukailimoku. The other carved statues are housed at the British Museum in London and Honolulu’s Bishop Museum.
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The East Coast itinerary includes two stops in Maine: Hurricane Island from Wednesday to Friday, and Mount Desert from Friday to July 27.
The sailing plan beyond May is sitll being confirmed, a spokeswoman said.
On its return trip, the Hokule‘a will head back down the East Coast, then proceed through Panama, the Galapagos Islands, Rapa Nui, Pitcairn Island and Tahiti.
The Hokule‘a is expected back in Hawaii waters in June.
Since departing Hawaii waters in May 2014, the Hokule‘a has sailed more than 26,000 nautical miles and made stops in 14 countries and 70 ports. More than 200 volunteers have helped to sail the canoe.
In all, the worldwide voyage to promote sustainability is expected to cover more than 60,000 nautical miles, 100 ports and 27 nations.
