Oct. 26, 2016
Contributed by Shaundor Chillingworth
Hōkūleʻa is currently in dry dock at the Mariner's Museum in Newport News, Virginia to undergo her last major maintenance of the Worldwide Voyage. This process brings her out of the water for about three weeks to undergo routine inspection and maintenance. During the dry dock period, visitors at the Mariner's Museum are able to see the iconic sailing vessel while her crew completes their work.
In conjunction with Hōkūleʻa visit, the museum is holding a new exhibition called Polynesian Voyagers, which celebrates the Mālama Honua message and voyaging heritage of Polynesian wayfinding.
"This is an educational opportunity to display Hōkūleʻa's beauty and history to an audience unfamiliar with the complexities and skills of Polynesian navigation," said Nainoa Thompson, president of Polynesian Voyaging Society.
"It also allows us time to take necessary care of our seafaring home, our canoe."
Hōkūleʻa's last dry dock was in Cape Town, South Africa; the process includes varnishing, repainting or repairing parts of the canoe. At the museum, the crew is working on sealing and replacing parts such as the canoe's main steering blade.
"It's so important for any vessel to be examined and refurbished out of the water," said Bruce Blankenfeld, Pwo navigator overseeing the dry dock procedures.
"But especially for Hōkūleʻa, as she journeys an unprecedented expedition that even motorized vessels don't attempt."
Hōkūleʻa will remain at the museum until early November, when she will leave Virginia to embark on the last legs of her journey around the world before arriving home in June 2017.
To help ensure Hōkūleʻa is safe, seaworthy and beautiful for the thousands of nautical miles that lay ahead, supporters can help fund the 2016 dry dock efforts at Hokulea.com/give.
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+. To see more Wa‘a Wednesday stories and much more about the Mālama Honua Voyage, go to the KS Online Mālama Honua page(if you are on a KS Network) or see related articles below.