Hōkūleʻa arrived at Mt. Desert, Maine on Saturday, July 23 and was officially welcomed by the community that morning.

Canoes deployed by tribes of the Wabanaki Nation sailed alongside the vessel to welcome her before she docked at JW Boat Company (Hall Quarry Road). Hōkūleʻa and her crew were greeted with a welcome ceremony from the Wabanaki and members of the Mt. Desert community. The ceremony gave Hōkūleʻa crew members and the Mt. Desert community a chance to interact with each other through exchanges of cultural traditions, and share their thoughts on the historic significance of the connection made between the groups. After the ceremony, the crew engaged with the public and conducted canoe tours.

On this current leg of the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage, the crew is continuing to honor First Peoples in the East Coast region, teaching and learning about traditions and practices of protecting cultural and environmental resources.

Youth groups from the area were able to visit Hōkūleʻa and public presentations were conducted at the JW Boat Company and the Gallery at Abbe Museum.

Mt. Desert is the last stop for this leg 21 of the voyage, which has included engagements throughout the New England area over the last five weeks. A new crew (Leg 22) of the journey will take Hōkūleʻa to Canada for the first time in history.

On Sunday, July 31, Hōkūleʻa will sail into Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, paying respects and recognizing the Mi’kmaq tribe, the indigenous people of the area. Once docked, the crew will be welcomed at an arrival ceremony that will include welcome remarks by Mayor Pam Mood and other local officials. Public canoe tours will be held following the ceremony at Killam Bros. Marina from 12:30 to 5:00 p.m.

Kamehameha Schools is proud to be the Education Sponsor of the Hōkūleʻa Worldwide Voyage. For more information about the Polynesian Voyaging Society and the Worldwide Voyage, visit hokulea.com or find the society on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Google+.

Canoes deployed by tribes of the Wabanaki Nation sailed alongside Hōkūleʻa to welcome her before she docked at JW Boat Company.

Hōkūleʻa making her way up beautiful Somes Sound in Mt. Desert, Maine.

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malama honua voyage

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Kaipuolono Article, Newsroom, Department News, Ho‘okahua, Mālama Honua

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