Malama Honua: Hokule'a — A Voyage of Hope

by Jennifer Allen, Desmond Tutu (Foreword), John McCaskill (Illustrator)

From the launch in Hawai'i in May 2014, around the world to Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and North and South America, this beautiful hardcover book chronicles Hōkūleʻa's epic mission to raise awareness of and nurture worldwide sustainability. Interwoven with descriptions of Hōkūleʻa's experiences in port are the voices of the master navigators and crew members, who guide the ship along the ocean's trackless path, and the local pioneers -- scientists, teachers, and children touched by Hōkūleʻa - who work tirelessly to weather the many environmental challenges in our modern lives. This is a story about our need to draw together into one global community. By respecting one another and nature's delicate and intricate systems, this book captures the many ways indigenous cultures are committed to living in ecological balance.

352 pages, Hardcover

Published October 3, 2017

Reviews

[Jessica Kuzmier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding chronology and overview of the wa'a Hokuela. More than just a canoe, this wa'a was instrumental in kindling the Hawaiian Renaissance, as well as a symbol of hope that in this modern world, sustainability is still possible. Beautiful photography, insightful interviews by members of the crew and individuals around the world seeking a more integral role with the biosphere around us, this is a terrific book as a coffee table book and as a graphic documentary of Hokuela's triumphant voyage around the world, navigating completely without scientific instrumentation, and instead relying on the crew's knowledge of the stars, waves, wind, and their hearts to guide them along the way. Hokulea's journeys have proved that navigating on the ocean does not require advanced gadgetry in order to sail, and that the Polynesians' settlement of Hawaii was due to exemplary skill in navigation rather than some random accident by 'primitive' people.

[Stormy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an inspiring book that chronicles the round-the-world voyage of a double-hulled canoe named Hokule’a. The crew navigated by the stars and rising sun, the wave patterns, and the birds they encountered on their voyage. This way of sailingcraft was almost lost, but in recent decades has been revived and now is celebrated and exercised by the Polynesian Voyaging Society. Hokule’a is sailed without engine, compass or GPS.

Malama Honda loosely translates as “Respecting the Earth” and the voyage was was made in 2013-17. The canoe Hokule’a visited ports around the world and allowed the crew to honor indigenous peoples and discover local environmental solutions. It came back to Hawai’i with a message of hope.

On a personal note, the granddaughter of our good friends, Ric and Dorry Bradley, is featured in this book and the accompanying video documentary. She lives on Rapa Nui island and runs a marvelous school of music there. She is the most intelligent, creative, optimistic person you could ever meet. Mahani and her husband Enrique are the hope of the future.