The Maui News

Honolua Bay on Maui will be the first stop on Aug. 17 for the voyaging canoes Hokule’a and Hikianalia on the Polynesian Voyaging Society’s “Mahalo, Hawaii Sail,” an eight-month voyage throughout the Hawaiian Islands, according to an announcement.

The Maui visit will be the first of 40 stops in the islands, the announcement said.

The sail comes after the society’s “Malama Honua Worldwide Voyage,” the society’s three-year voyage around the world.

Now, “We are looking forward to reconnecting with and thanking the people of Hawaii,” said Nainoa Thompson, society president and famed navigator. “It’s also time now to rediscover and shine the light on what people and organizations are doing to turn inspiration into action for the betterment of our island home and the Earth.”

Honolua Bay was chosen as the sail’s first stop because it was where Hokule’a’s maiden voyage to Tahiti was launched in 1976.

Hokule’a and Hikianalia crew members will be engaging with schools and the community in West Maui, where they are scheduled to conduct presentations and canoe tours. Partnering with the voyaging society are Maui Land & Pineapple Co., the Pu’u Kukui Watershed Preserve, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Nature Conservancy of Hawai’i and Kamehameha Schools Maui.

On Aug. 19, crew members will join the community and participate in a project to plant 4,000 koa trees and thousands of other native plants in the Pu’u Kukui Watershed Preserve. At one time, koa trees were used to make voyaging canoes, but now there are few such native trees remaining that are large enough to do so.

Other events include:

• Aug. 17, 4 p.m., Hokule’a and Hikianalia arrive at Honolua Bay.

• Aug. 17, 6 p.m., Malama Honua Voyage sharing by crew members at Kamehameha Schools Maui, Keopuolani Hale, free and open to the public.

• Aug. 18, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Kamehameha Schools Maui visit with Hokule’a crew and planting.

• Aug. 19, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., planting of koa trees at the Pu’u Kukui preserve’s ma kai conservation area, limited parking available.

• Aug. 19, 2 to 5 p.m., public canoe tours, Honolua Bay Ramp.

• Aug. 20, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., public canoe tours, Honolua Bay Ramp.

Dates and times are subject to change.

For more information, go to www.hokulea.com.