Hokulea original crew reunites for 50th anniversary of maiden voyage to Tahiti

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Original crew members of the Polynesian voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa gathered over the weekend to mark 50 years since the vessel returned to Hawaiʻi after its maiden voyage to Tahiti.

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The reunion was held Saturday at the Marine Education Training Center at Sand Island — the home of Hōkūleʻa. Crew members shared memories of the voyage and of being selected for the crew.

A historic homecoming

On July 26, 1976, Hōkūleʻa returned to Hawaiʻi from its maiden voyage to Tahiti. Hawaiʻi entertainer Al Harrington hosted PBS Hawaiʻi’s live coverage of the arrival. More than 20,000 people came to see the canoe and her crew at Magic Island.

The original crew

John Kruse, Billy Richards, Penny Martin, Dr. Ben Young, Snake Ah Hee, Kimo Lyman and Nainoa Thompson are regarded as trailblazers who sailed Hōkūleʻa as early Polynesians did, without modern navigational equipment.

Penny Martin, an original crew member, said seeing the canoe for the first time left a lasting impression.

“I saw Hōkūleʻa come in and fell in love, and thought that was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen coming to our harbor,” Martin said. “I didn’t dare think too lofty. I was hoping that I could be a part of the project. I didn’t dare dream that I could be a crew member.”

Snake Ah Hee said learning he had been selected for the crew was a meaningful moment.

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“When they got all the names, and then my name came up. But wow, I was happy, because to me, the ocean was part of my life,” Ah Hee said.

Life at sea

Crew members said spending about a month at sea on Hōkūleʻa was ‘rough.’ They ate dried fish, paʻi’ai and coconuts during the voyage.

Billy Richards recalled his first night aboard.

“The first night at sea, I slept on a bag of coconuts and I didn’t have foul weather gear. Back then, they didn’t give you foul weather gear. You just found your own, I guess. But my father had made me a tī leaf rain jacket,” Richards said.

Kimo Lyman reflected on the voyage and the bond formed among the crew.

“We found the island and I’m forever grateful because, like John said earlier, we are a family, always will be and yeah, it’s been a ride. They kept asking me to come back and so we go,” Lyman said.

Looking ahead

Fellow original crew members Buffalo Keaulana and Maka’ala Yates were unable to attend the event. Keaulana was on board Hōkūleʻa in 2024 when the canoe sailed to Lāhainā following the wildfires.

Hōkūleʻa and sister canoe Hikianalia are currently in Aotearoa. The Polynesian Voyaging Society is expected to reveal an updated sail plan to continue the Moananuiākea voyage around the Pacific.

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