The Hōkūleʻa and her Galapagos crew were greeted by the ʻōiwi of Rapa Nui at a landing ceremony held Saturday, March 4, on the marae at Anakena, one of whose older names is our own Olomana. Kaleo Wong, navigator of the penultimate leg of the WWV (Rapa Nui-to-Pitcairn-to-Nuku Hiva-to-Tahiti) offered his hosts the gift of Hawaiian-language oratory with words that recounted the journey of our voyaging canoe ("Mozambique! How's that for a journey traveled by Hawaiians or Polynesians?"), that honored the tradition of Polynesian navigation, that celebrated the Hōkūleʻa's power to restore and unite, and that gave thanks for the generosity of Rapa Nui's people over the 18 years that have passed since our canoe's first visit to their shores.
– Kīhei de Silva
– Kīhei de Silva
Screen Shot: ‘Ōiwi TV