The Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia Polynesian boat is sailing into the Redondo Beach Marina followed by a flotilla of canoes greeting the crew on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.
The Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia California Voyage is using Hawaiian and Polynesian culture to educate about taking care of the Earth. The floating classroom is visiting ports along the California coast, stopping in Redondo Beach before hitting Orange County, to encourage the next generation of voyaging captains, navigators and crewmembers, and to share the story of Hikianalia, a canoe that blends ancient wisdom and modern solutions to address the environmental and cultural issues.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Hikianalia, a 72-foot canoe powered by wind and solar energy, is on a 2,800-mile journey from Hawaii, across the Pacific, and down the California coastline, to share a slice of South Pacific culture with the people on the mainland along the way.
The vessel sailed into King Harbor in Redondo Beach on Wednesday after weeks traveling from Hawaii to Northern California.
Next week, the canoe travels to Catalina Island, then Dana Point, before concluding its voyage in San Diego.
The Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia Polynesian boat is sailing into the Redondo Beach Marina followed by a flotilla of canoes greeting the crew on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.
The Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia California Voyage is using Hawaiian and Polynesian culture to educate about taking care of the Earth. The floating classroom is visiting ports along the California coast, stopping in Redondo Beach before hitting Orange County, to encourage the next generation of voyaging captains, navigators and crewmembers, and to share the story of Hikianalia, a canoe that blends ancient wisdom and modern solutions to address the environmental and cultural issues.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Tua Pittman rejoins the Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia Polynesian boat as it is sailing into the Redondo Beach Marina followed by a flotilla of canoes on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.
The Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia California Voyage is using Hawaiian and Polynesian culture to educate about taking care of the Earth. The floating classroom is visiting ports along the California coast, stopping in Redondo Beach before hitting Orange County, to encourage the next generation of voyaging captains, navigators and crewmembers, and to share the story of Hikianalia, a canoe that blends ancient wisdom and modern solutions to address the environmental and cultural issues.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia Polynesian boat is sailing into the Redondo Beach Marina followed by a flotilla of canoes greeting the crew on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.
The Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia California Voyage is using Hawaiian and Polynesian culture to educate about taking care of the Earth. The floating classroom is visiting ports along the California coast, stopping in Redondo Beach before hitting Orange County, to encourage the next generation of voyaging captains, navigators and crewmembers, and to share the story of Hikianalia, a canoe that blends ancient wisdom and modern solutions to address the environmental and cultural issues.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia Polynesian boat is sailing into the Redondo Beach Marina followed by a flotilla of canoes greeting the crew on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.
The Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia California Voyage is using Hawaiian and Polynesian culture to educate about taking care of the Earth. The floating classroom is visiting ports along the California coast, stopping in Redondo Beach before hitting Orange County, to encourage the next generation of voyaging captains, navigators and crewmembers, and to share the story of Hikianalia, a canoe that blends ancient wisdom and modern solutions to address the environmental and cultural issues.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia Polynesian boat is sailing into the Redondo Beach Marina followed by a flotilla of canoes greeting the crew on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.
The Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia California Voyage is using Hawaiian and Polynesian culture to educate about taking care of the Earth. The floating classroom is visiting ports along the California coast, stopping in Redondo Beach before hitting Orange County, to encourage the next generation of voyaging captains, navigators and crewmembers, and to share the story of Hikianalia, a canoe that blends ancient wisdom and modern solutions to address the environmental and cultural issues.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia Polynesian boat is sailing into the Redondo Beach Marina followed by a flotilla of canoes greeting the crew on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.
The Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia California Voyage is using Hawaiian and Polynesian culture to educate about taking care of the Earth. The floating classroom is visiting ports along the California coast, stopping in Redondo Beach before hitting Orange County, to encourage the next generation of voyaging captains, navigators and crewmembers, and to share the story of Hikianalia, a canoe that blends ancient wisdom and modern solutions to address the environmental and cultural issues.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia Polynesian boat is sailing into the Redondo Beach Marina followed by a flotilla of canoes greeting the crew on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.
The Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia California Voyage is using Hawaiian and Polynesian culture to educate about taking care of the Earth. The floating classroom is visiting ports along the California coast, stopping in Redondo Beach before hitting Orange County, to encourage the next generation of voyaging captains, navigators and crewmembers, and to share the story of Hikianalia, a canoe that blends ancient wisdom and modern solutions to address the environmental and cultural issues.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Traditional Polynesian dancers greet the crew of the Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia after sailing into the Redondo Beach Marina on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.
The Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia California Voyage is using Hawaiian and Polynesian culture to educate about taking care of the Earth. The floating classroom is visiting ports along the California coast, stopping in Redondo Beach before hitting Orange County, to encourage the next generation of voyaging captains, navigators and crewmembers, and to share the story of Hikianalia, a canoe that blends ancient wisdom and modern solutions to address the environmental and cultural issues.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia Polynesian boat is sailing into the Redondo Beach Marina followed by a flotilla of canoes greeting the crew on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.
The Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia California Voyage is using Hawaiian and Polynesian culture to educate about taking care of the Earth. The floating classroom is visiting ports along the California coast, stopping in Redondo Beach before hitting Orange County, to encourage the next generation of voyaging captains, navigators and crewmembers, and to share the story of Hikianalia, a canoe that blends ancient wisdom and modern solutions to address the environmental and cultural issues.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia Polynesian boat is sailing into the Redondo Beach Marina followed by a flotilla of canoes greeting the crew on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.
The Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia California Voyage is using Hawaiian and Polynesian culture to educate about taking care of the Earth. The floating classroom is visiting ports along the California coast, stopping in Redondo Beach before hitting Orange County, to encourage the next generation of voyaging captains, navigators and crewmembers, and to share the story of Hikianalia, a canoe that blends ancient wisdom and modern solutions to address the environmental and cultural issues.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Traditional Polynesian dancers greet the crew of the Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia after sailing into the Redondo Beach Marina on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.
The Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia California Voyage is using Hawaiian and Polynesian culture to educate about taking care of the Earth. The floating classroom is visiting ports along the California coast, stopping in Redondo Beach before hitting Orange County, to encourage the next generation of voyaging captains, navigators and crewmembers, and to share the story of Hikianalia, a canoe that blends ancient wisdom and modern solutions to address the environmental and cultural issues.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Traditional Polynesian dancers greet the crew of the Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia after sailing into the Redondo Beach Marina on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.
The Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia California Voyage is using Hawaiian and Polynesian culture to educate about taking care of the Earth. The floating classroom is visiting ports along the California coast, stopping in Redondo Beach before hitting Orange County, to encourage the next generation of voyaging captains, navigators and crewmembers, and to share the story of Hikianalia, a canoe that blends ancient wisdom and modern solutions to address the environmental and cultural issues.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Traditional Polynesian dancers greet the crew of the Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia after sailing into the Redondo Beach Marina on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.
The Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia California Voyage is using Hawaiian and Polynesian culture to educate about taking care of the Earth. The floating classroom is visiting ports along the California coast, stopping in Redondo Beach before hitting Orange County, to encourage the next generation of voyaging captains, navigators and crewmembers, and to share the story of Hikianalia, a canoe that blends ancient wisdom and modern solutions to address the environmental and cultural issues.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Traditional Polynesian dancers greet the crew of the Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia after sailing into the Redondo Beach Marina on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.
The Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia California Voyage is using Hawaiian and Polynesian culture to educate about taking care of the Earth. The floating classroom is visiting ports along the California coast, stopping in Redondo Beach before hitting Orange County, to encourage the next generation of voyaging captains, navigators and crewmembers, and to share the story of Hikianalia, a canoe that blends ancient wisdom and modern solutions to address the environmental and cultural issues.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Traditional Polynesian dancers greet the crew of the Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia after sailing into the Redondo Beach Marina on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.
The Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia California Voyage is using Hawaiian and Polynesian culture to educate about taking care of the Earth. The floating classroom is visiting ports along the California coast, stopping in Redondo Beach before hitting Orange County, to encourage the next generation of voyaging captains, navigators and crewmembers, and to share the story of Hikianalia, a canoe that blends ancient wisdom and modern solutions to address the environmental and cultural issues.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Traditional Polynesian dancers greet the crew of the Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia after sailing into the Redondo Beach Marina on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.
The Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia California Voyage is using Hawaiian and Polynesian culture to educate about taking care of the Earth. The floating classroom is visiting ports along the California coast, stopping in Redondo Beach before hitting Orange County, to encourage the next generation of voyaging captains, navigators and crewmembers, and to share the story of Hikianalia, a canoe that blends ancient wisdom and modern solutions to address the environmental and cultural issues.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
“A lot of people see the ocean as a barrier between people – but we see it more of a road that connects us,” Mark Ellis, the boat’s captain, said.
The Alahula Kai o Maleka Hikianalia California Voyage is organized by the Polynesian Voyaging Society to share ideas of how to preserve the environment, while also learning about different cultures.
At each stop, the crew aboard is welcomed by tribal groups indigenous to California in an arrival ceremony that invites them onto the mainland.
“The journey is about connecting with our indigenous partners along the coast and learning from them about what they are doing to protect the coast,” Ellis said.
Lessons and stories
The 9-person crew spends days at each stop, teaching the public about Hawaiian culture while gathering lessons to take back to the islands. They meet with everyone from educational groups to government officials, sailing groups to surfers.
The Hikianalia, built in New Zealand and launched in 2012, is the sister boat of the famous Hōkūleʻa, which launched in 1975 and is still active today.
In 1978, the Hōkūleʻa was caught in a storm during an exploration voyage, resulting in the death of Hawaiian waterman Eddie Aikau, who was lost at sea after he tried to swim to shore to save his crew. From that tragedy came education and changes in safety at sea, including the use of escort vessels for subsequent voyages.
The Hikianalia was launched as an escort vessel to Hōkūleʻa and is now used as a floating classroom, sharing values and teaching the next generation about navigation, how to conserve resources, care for the ocean and sharing how to live sustainably on islands or anywhere in the world.
Ocean protection
Ellis said one of the lessons he’ll take back to the islands are the “Ocean Guardian Schools” he visited along the way in areas of Ventura and Santa Barbara, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration program that teaches school children how to be protectors of the ocean.
“They students work on projects to protect the ocean,” he said. “It’s those types of stories that are inspiring to us, that we will take back to Hawaii.
“When we travel, it’s not just something exciting or new to be able to see all these beautiful places. We also want to collect these stories; we consider them gifts.”
The vessel will be docked in Redondo Beach at the King Harbor Yacht Club, 280 Yacht Club Way with an open house for visitors to come aboard on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will also be a crew presentation and discussion from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 21, before the boat departs to Catalina Island early next week.
There will be an arrival and welcome ceremony open to the public in Dana Point on Oct. 23 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Dr. There will be free dockside canoe tours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 27 and Oct. 28, with showings of the film “Moana” at 10 a.m. each day.
For more information about the voyage, go to hokulea.com.
