The Significance of the Voyaging Canoe

                 Nainoa Thompson, Sailmaster and Navigator

   The voyaging accomplishments of the Polynesians ranked them among 
the greatest navigators and explorers on earth. The islands of Polynesia 
cover a triangular area greater than the entire landmass of North America, 
from Hawai'i in the north, to Rapanui (Easter Island) in the southeast, to 
Aotearoa (New Zealand) in the southwest. In terms of the sheer size of 
the region over which its culture and languages have spread, Polynesia is 
the largest nation on Earth.
   Every area of traditional Polynesian culture was touched by the 
voyaging canoe. Its construction, provisioning, and launching brought 
together the efforts and talents of the entire community. As the highest 
technological achievement of Polynesian society, the canoe stimulated 
development and production of traditional arts and crafts and inspired 
religious ceremonies, rituals, chants and dances in the lives of its people. 
Sailors, navigators, artisans, priests, chanters, and dancers all contributed 
to voyaging.
   Challenged by their ocean environment and the need to sail to survive, 
Polynesians developed the intelligence, fortitude, and resourcefulness 
required to settle the most geographically isolated islands on the planet. 
Also of critical importance was the courage required to leave the safety of 
home and explore the vast unknown expanse of the world's largest ocean.
   As their ability to explore evolved, the Polynesian culture flourished. 
Survival of this culture required that traditions be passed from generation 
to generation. Hawaiians exist today because of that process of education. 
Within the last 200 years, however, that educational process has fallen 
into disuse and our understanding of traditions has greatly diminished. 
Only remnants of a once rich history remain today, and as a result the 
Hawaiian culture and the Hawaiian people have greatly suffered.
   Hawai'iloa, a double-hulled voyaging canoe built from largely natural 
materials, was constructed to take on the challenge of rediscovering and 
re-establishing those once rich voyaging traditions. Hawai'iloa was built 
on expertise gained from the past experiences of Hokule'a, a performance 
accurate replica of a Hawaiian voyaging canoe. Hokule'a has sailed 
30,000 nautical miles throughout Polynesia over ancient migratory 
routes.
   Together Hokule'a and Hawai'iloa continue to perpetuate the traditions 
of voyaging through education. Through this education we hope to 
increase the sense of personal pride among all people who value Hawai'i's 
heritage, history and culture.
   We also hope that the search to understand our traditions will shed light 
on how the ancient people survived on islands with limited resources. It is 
our intent that the information gathered will help educate the children of 
Hawai'i to understand the needed balance between human needs and 
Hawai'i's limited resources. Our children are our future. Efforts made to 
educate them can only contribute to a better future for Hawai'i and its 
successive generations.