May. 16, 2014

Contributed by Communication Group Staff

Kamehameha Schools has pledged $2 million in support of the Polynesian Voyaging Society’s four-year Worldwide Voyage of Hōkūle‘a and its sister canoe Hikianalia.

“On behalf of all our students and families, alumni, faculty and staff, the Board of Trustees is humbled and honored to join with the many esteemed educational, business, cultural and other partners from our community and around the world in support of this historic initiative,” said Janeen Olds, Kamehameha Schools board chair.

“This historic voyage demonstrates the profound capacity and relevance of ancestral knowledge in our global effort to restore the earth for future generations,” Olds continued, “and there is great potential for it to unite people around the world.”

A strong supporter of the Hōkūle‘a for some 40 years, Kamehameha joins several educational partners, among them the University of Hawai‘i, the state Department of Education, Punahou School, ‘Iolani School, Bishop Museum and others in engaging with the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) to create and distribute a broad spectrum of learning materials intended to share the lessons, experiences and inspirations gained throughout the journey.

“The lessons and new understandings we gain from the Worldwide Voyage could drive systemic educational, social and political changes in the way we live with, learn from, and ultimately, sustain one another on this island planet we all share,” commented Jack Wong, Kamehameha Schools Interim CEO.

Funding from KS is expected to be disbursed over five years in support of experiential-based curricula and lesson plans, multimedia documentation and the forging of relationships and partnerships with other educational leaders across the globe, all developed directly from the Worldwide Voyage for the benefit of preschool to college-aged students and the larger community.

“In the wake of our ancestors, we will sail 47,000 nautical miles and visit 28 countries,” said master navigator Nainoa Thompson. “With the significant support of Kamehameha Schools in terms of funding, educational engagement, and cultural leadership, we are even more encouraged about collectively transforming education in Hawaiʻi and inspiring global action to heal and sustain our oceans and Island Earth. We are grateful for our ongoing collaboration.”

The lessons and new understandings we gain from the Worldwide Voyage could drive systemic educational, social and political changes in the way we live with, learn from, and ultimately, sustain one another on this island planet we all share.
Jack Wong, KS Interim Chief Executive Officer