Los Angeles
(AFP) - A traditional double-hulled canoe has returned to Hawaii after
concluding a three-year epic journey around the globe, the first trip of its
kind by such a boat.
The
Hokule'a vessel and its crew entered the marina at Honolulu's Magic Island
peninsula on Saturday after sailing more than 40,000 nautical miles (74,000
kilometres) since its departure from the island of Oahu in 2014.
Large
crowds gathered for the homecoming celebration to commemorate the end of the
odyssey, which intended to "weave a lei of hope around the world through
sharing indigenous wisdom, groundbreaking conservation and preservation
initiatives," according to voyage organisers.
The goal
was to use only ancient methods of wayfinding -- reading the stars, winds and
waves -- to guide the journey, just as the first Polynesian settlers who
reached the archipelago did hundreds of years ago.
The
Hokule'a -- the Hawaiian name for "star of gladness" -- was the first
traditional double-hulled Polynesian voyaging canoe built in 600 years,
according to the Polynesian Voyaging Society.
The canoe's
maiden voyage in 1976 was to Tahiti in French Polynesia.
Crews of
some dozen people rotated at major ports of call throughout the round-the-world
journey after undergoing training.
The
homecoming celebration kicked off a three-day summit to celebrate the journey
and discuss future sailing plans.
"Through
her voyages, Hokule'a has sparked a reawakening of Hawaiian culture, language,
identity and revitalised voyaging and navigation traditions throughout the
Pacific Ocean," voyage organisers said.
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