PBS Hawai‘i Presents A Golden Year for Hōkūle‘a

There is much to celebrate as the Polynesian voyaging canoes Hōkūle‘a and Hikianalia continue their Moananuiākea Voyage around the Pacific. According to the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS), crews for both canoes continue training in New Zealand (Aotearoa) for the next legs of the voyage to Tonga, American Samoa, Samoa and Fiji starting in August.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Hōkūle‘a’s maiden voyage to Tahiti. In July, PBS Hawai‘i commemorates that historic achievement with three films documenting the canoe’s storied history.

Hōkūle‘a returns to Honolulu on July 26, 1976. Photo: Courtesy of PBS Hawai‘i

It begins Thursday, July 16, with Hōkūle‘a: Star of Gladness, a 30-minute film directed by Tip Davis and released in 1975. The film documents the birth of Hōkūle‘a from the carving of the canoe to its launch at Kualoa Beach on Windward O‘ahu in March of 1975. Featured are founding members of PVS including Herb Kāne and Ben Finney. Chants by Ka‘upena Wong and hula by Hoakalei Kamau‘u filled a launch ceremony not seen or practiced for hundreds of years.

Hōkūle‘a returns to Honolulu on July 26, 1976. Photo: Courtesy of PBS Hawai‘i

On Thursday, July 23, PBS Hawai‘i presents The Return of the Hōkūle‘a, a recording of the station’s live coverage of the canoe’s historic return from Tahiti on July 26, 1976. Hawai‘i celebrity Al Harrington hosts the live coverage with thousands of people who turned out to welcome Hōkūle‘a as it arrived at Magic Island in Honolulu. The program includes appearances by then-Governor George Ariyoshi, master of ceremonies Zulu, born Gilbert Kauhi, along with music that includes The Brothers Cazimero.

The month-long celebration culminates July 30 with Voyage of Rediscovery, a 1987 PBS Hawai‘i film documenting Polynesian cultural revivals across multiple islands in the South Pacific including Cook Islands, Tahiti and Aotearoa. PBS Hawai‘i last shared this film in 2001.

All films begin at 8:30 p.m. and will be available on pbshawaii.org and on the PBS Hawai‘i YouTube page.

SEE ALSO: PBS Hawai‘i Celebrates 60 Years of Storytelling

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