The Voyage of Rediscovery: 1985-87

Photo Below: Nga Toki Matawhaorua, a Maori Canoe Greets Hokule'a, 1985

Replicating a legendary voyage from Hawai'i to Tahiti and back in 1980 awakened in those who sailed Hokule'a a desire to sail to other ancestral homelands of Polynesia and reconnect the family of the Pacific. From 1985 to 1987, Hokule'a carried out the Voyage of Rediscovery to Aotearoa (New Zealand) and back, with stops in Tonga, Samoa, the Cook Islands, Tahiti, and the Tuamotus. The purpose was to take the canoe to the peoples of Polynesia who share a common ancestry and to reawaken pride in their common traditions of navigation and voyaging. During this voyage, Hokule'a retraced ancestral migration routes while continuing to answer questions of scientific interest about how Polynesia was settled in ancient times.

Maps: (1) the 1985-87 voyage to Aotearoa and back (color); (2) the 1985 voyage to Aotearoa and back (black and white).

Nainoa Thompson: Recollections of the Voyage of Rediscovery

Ben Finney: "Voyaging into Polynesia's Past" / Part 4: The Voyage of Rediscovery and its Anthropological Significance, originally published in "Voyaging into Polynesia's Past" in From Sea to Space (Palmerston North: Massey University, 1992. 5-65). For a longer account of the 1985-87 voyage to Aotearoa, see Finney's Voyage of Rediscovery: A Cultural Odyssey Through Polynesia (Berkeley: UC Press, 1994).

Carlos Andrade: Recollections of the Voyage from Aotearoa to Samoa: One Memorable Stormy Night with Mau and a Song

Herb Kawainui Kane: The Seekers: A Story of Hokule'a's 1985 Visit to Taputapuatea

Crew Lists

Hawai'i - Tahiti (July 10, 1985 - Aug. 11, 1985): Navigator: Nainoa Thompson; Captain: Shorty Bertelmann; Crew: Clay Bertelmann, Dennis Chun, Richard Tai Crouch, Harry Ho, Dr. Larry Magnussen, Buddy McGuire, Mau Piailug, Thomas Reity, James Shizuru, Tava Taupu

Tahiti - Cook Islands (Aug. 30 1985 - Sept. 14, 1985)--Navigator: Nainoa Thompson; Captain: Gordon Pi`ianai`a; Crew: Dr. Patrick Aiu, Snake Ah Hee, Chad Baybayan, John Kruse, Vic Lipman, Mel Paoa, Mau Piailug, Abraham Pi`ianai`a, Chad Pi`ianai`a, Michael Tongg, Andrew Tutai (Cook Islands), Peter Sepelalur, Leon Sterllng, Cliff Watson, Bob Krauss, journalist, was a crew member from Tahiti to Raiatea

Cook Islands - Aotearoa (New Zealand) (Nov. 21, 1985 - Dec. 7, 1985): Navigator: Nainoa Thompson; Captain: Shorty Bertelmann; Crew: Dr. Patrick Aiu, Chad Baybayan, Bruce Blankenfeld, Stanley Conrad (New Zealand), Dr. Ben Finney, Harry Ho, Buddy McGuire, Billy Richards, James Shizuru, Leon Sterling, Tava Taupu, Michael Tongg

Aotearoa - Tonga (May 1, 1986 - May 11, 1986): Navigator: Nainoa Thompson; Captain: Leon Sterling; Crew: Snake Ah Hee, Dr. Patrick Aiu, Carlos Andrade, Chad Baybayan, Philip Ikeda, John Keolanui, Kimo Lyman, Mau Piailug, Scott Sullivan, Michael Tongg, Sione Ula (Tonga)

Tonga to American Samoa (May 23, 1986 - May 25, 1986): Navigator: Nainoa Thompson; Captain: Leon Sterling; Crew: Dr. Patrick Aiu, Carlos Andrade, Gil Ane, Gail Armstrong, Chad Baybayan, Hector Busby (New Zealand), Philip Ikeda, Sam Ka`ai, John Keolanui, Kimo Lyman, Mau Piailug, Scott Sullivan, Jo Anne Sterling, Sione Taupeamuhu (Tonga), Michael Tongg, Sione Uaine Ula (Tonga)

American Samoa to the Cook Islands (July 7, 1986 - July 16, 1986): Navigator: Nainoa Thompson; Captain: Shorty Bertelmann; Crew: Clay Bertelmann, Harry Ho, Pauahi Ioane, Bernard Kilonsky, Ben Lindsey, Mel Paoa, Mau Piailug, Tua Pittman (Cook Islands), Tava Taupu

Cook Islands to Tahiti (Aug. 12, 1986 - Aug. 21, 1986): Navigator and Captain: Nainoa Thompson; Crew: Dr. Patrick Aiu, Snake Ah Hee, Chad Baybayan, Bruce Blankenfeld, Wallace Froiseth, Harry Ho, Glen Oshiro, Mau Piailug, Richard Rhodes, Michael Tongg, Aaron Young

Tautira, Tahiti - Pape'ete, Tahiti (One-day sail, Mar. 27, 1987): Navigator: Nainoa Thompson; Captain: Chad Baybayan; Crew: Wallace Froiseth, Harry Ho, Kilo Kaina, Michele Kapana, Will Kyselka, Russell Mau, Abraham Pi`ianai`a, Tutaha Salmon (Tahiti), Cary Sneider, Tava Taupu, Michael Tongg, Aaron Young

Tahiti - Rangiroa (April 2, 1987 - April 4, 1987): Navigator: Nainoa Thompson; Captain: Chad Baybayan; Crew: Clay Bertelmann, Wallace Froiseth, Rey Jonsson, Sol Kahoohalahala, Will Kyselka, Charles Larson, Mel Paoa, Cary Sneider, Tava Taupu, Michael Tongg, Cliff Watson, Dr. Nathan Wong, Elisa Yadao, Aaron Young

Rangiroa - Hawai'i (April 24, 1987 to May 21, 1987 Hilo; May 23,1987, Kualoa): Navigator: Nainoa Thompson; Captain: Shorty Bertelmann; Crew: Snake Ah Hee, Dr. Patrick Aiu, Chad Baybayan, Bruce Blankenfeld, Stanley Conrad (New Zealand), Eni Hunkin (Samoa), Tua Pittman (Cook Islands), Dixon Stroup, Puaniho Tauotaha (Tahiti), Sione Taupeamuhu (Tonga), Tava Taupu, Michael Tongg, Cliff Watson, Elisa Yadao