Canoe completes voyage from Hawaii to Japan
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{{Japan}}
{{date|June 9, 2007}}

More than five months after setting off from [[Hawaii]], the [[w:Polynesia|Polynesian]] voyaging canoe ''[[w:Hokulea|Hokulea]]'', reached [[w:Yokohama|Yokohama]], [[Japan]] today.

The 62-foot (19-meter) doubled-hulled [[w:canoe|canoe]], rigged with two sailing masts, completed a journey of 8,450 miles (13,600 kilometres).

Bruce Blankenfield, captain of the 10-member crew, said the journey was meant to celebrate the contributions that Japanese immigrants have made in Hawaii.

"It is like a reconnection," he was quoted as saying by the [[w:Associated Press|Associated Press]]. "We also hope to build awareness of culture and our history."

The ''Hokulea'', or ''Hōkūleʻa'', is patterned after the voyager canoes of ancient Hawaiian islanders. It was the tenth major journey for the boat, which first sailed in 1976 from Hawaii to [[w:Tahiti|Tahiti]].

For part of the boat's voyage, it was accompanied by a sister voyager canoe, the ''[[w:Alingano Maisu|Alingano Maisu]]'', to [[w:Satawal|Satawal]], where the ''Maisu'' was delivered as a gift to navigator Mau Piailug, who guided the ''Hōkūleʻa'' on its first cruise 31 years ago.

Along the way across the [[w:Pacific Ocean|Pacific]], it stopped in the [[w:Marshall Islands|Marshall Islands]], [[w:Truk|Truk]], [[w:Yap|Yap]], [[w:Palau|Palua]], [[w:Okinawa|Okinawa]], [[w:Uwajima|Uwajima]] and [[w:Hiroshima|Hiroshima]] before reaching Yokohama.

The return voyage for the ''Hōkūleʻa'' will be by ship, and it is expected be back in its [[w:Honolulu|Honolulu]] home port by July.

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://starbulletin.com/2007/06/09/news/story01.html
    |title=Crowds at Yokohama greet Hokulea
    |author=Gary T. Kubota
    |pub=Honolulu Star-Bulletin
    |date=June 9, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070609/NEWS23/706090327/1173/NEWS
    |title=Hokulea sails into last port of call
    |author=Jan TenBruggencate
    |pub=Honolulu Advertiser
    |date=June 9, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/sports/sumo/news/20070609p2a00m0na026000c.html
    |title=Hawaiian canoe sails into Yokohama port after five-month journey
    |author=Associated Press
    |pub=Mainichi Daily News
    |date=June 9, 2007}}
{{Wikipedia|Hokulea}}
{{publish}}
{{archive}}

[[Category:Hawaii]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Japan]]
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Oceania]]
[[Category:Culture and entertainment]]
[[Category:Hiroshima]]
[[Category:Pacific Ocean]]
[[Category:Marshall Islands]]
[[Category:Palau]]

</noinclude>
More than five months after setting off from Hawaii, the Polynesian voyaging canoe Hokulea, reached Yokohama, Japan today.

The 62-foot (19-meter) doubled-hulled canoe, rigged with two sailing masts, completed a journey of 8,450 miles (13,600 kilometres).

Bruce Blankenfield, captain of the 10-member crew, said the journey was meant to celebrate the contributions that Japanese immigrants have made in Hawaii.

"It is like a reconnection," he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. "We also hope to build awareness of culture and our history."

The Hokulea, or Hōkūleʻa, is patterned after the voyager canoes of ancient Hawaiian islanders. It was the tenth major journey for the boat, which first sailed in 1976 from Hawaii to Tahiti.

For part of the boat's voyage, it was accompanied by a sister voyager canoe, the Alingano Maisu, to Satawal, where the Maisu was delivered as a gift to navigator Mau Piailug, who guided the Hōkūleʻa on its first cruise 31 years ago.

Along the way across the Pacific, it stopped in the Marshall Islands, Truk, Yap, Palua, Okinawa, Uwajima and Hiroshima before reaching Yokohama.

The return voyage for the Hōkūleʻa will be by ship, and it is expected be back in its Honolulu home port by July.
Hawaii United States Japan Asia Oceania Culture and entertainment Hiroshima Pacific Ocean Marshall Islands Palau