First and second conceptual designs of Hokule'a by Herb Kane.

Original stamp cover to commemorate the Polynesian Voyaging Society Bicentennial Canoe - Hokule'a Voyage Hawaii-Tahiti-Hawaii 1976

Original stamp cover to commemorate the Polynesian Voyaging Society Bicentennial Voyage of Rediscovery

Original stamp cover to commemorate the Polynesian Voyaging Society Bicentennial canoe-Hokule'a Voyage Hawaii-Tahiti-Hawaii 1976

E KUU HOAHANAU HOOIKAIKA MAU O HAWAII NEI THE PLAN 1974 The year of the Canoe 1975 The year of the Men 1976 The year of the Voyage

The painting of Hokule'a as imagined by Herb Kawainui Kane illustrating the cover of the 1973 Polynesian Voyaging Society membership application. THE PIONEERS Herb Kane, Ben Finney and Tommy Holmes founded the Polynesian Voyaging Society in 1973 to build a deep-sea canoe to sail from Hawaii to Tahiti and back. Those 3 people and several others were instrumental in advancing the vision of canoe voyaging. HERB KAWAINUI KANE Native Hawaiian artist, historian and co-founder of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, was the general designer and construction supervisor for Hokule’a. BEN FINNEY Cultural anthropologist and co-founder of the Polynesian Voyaging Society. Ben Finney, the visionary, the father of Hokule’a. TOMMY HOLMES 1945-1993, a freelance writer, was a co-founder of the Polynesian Voyaging Society. KAWIKA KAPAHULEHUA A Niihau native who speaks fluent Hawaiian, served as the canoe’s captain. MAU PIAILUG Micronesian islander, was the navigator on the historic trip to Tahiti and later was mentor to future Hawaiian navigators. MYRON ‘PINKY’ THOMPSON 1924-2001, was instrumental in laying the foundation for future ocean journeys by the Polynesian Voyaging Society. NAINOA THOMPSON Became on 1980 the first native Hawaiian in centuries to navigate a voyaging canoe from Hawaii to Tahiti. Nainoa Thompson, the navigator, the son of Hokule’a. EDDIE AIKAU 1946-1978, famous big-wave surfer, was lost after the Hokule’a was swamped on a 1978 voyage. IN HONOR OF THOSE WHO SERVED ABOARD THE HOKULE’A ON ITS FIRST VOYAGE TO AND FROM TAHITI. Mau Piailug, Clifford Ah Mow, Shorty Bertelmann, Ben Finney, Sam Kalalau, Boogie Kalama, Kawika Kapahuelehua, Buffalo Keaulana, John Kruse, Leonard Puputauiki, Dukie Kuahulu, Billy Richards, Snake Ah Hee, Kainoa Lee, Kimo Lyman, Gordon Pi’ianai’I, Penny Rawlins Martin, Maka’ala Yates, Ben Young, David Lewis, Nainoa Thompson, Mel Kinney, Tommy Holmes, Dave Lyman, Rodo Williams, Andy Esperito, Keani Reiner.

Final conceptual design of Hokule'a by Herb Kane.

A non-profit membership society dedicated to celebrating the discovery of Hawaii through the authentic re-creation and documentation of a sailing canoe voyage from Hawaii to French Polynesia and back. The Board of Directors Advisors THE PIONEERS Herb Kane, Ben Finney and Tommy Holmes founded the Polynesian Voyaging Society in 1973 to build a deep-sea canoe to sail from Hawaii to Tahiti and back. Those 3 people and several others were instrumental in advancing the vision of canoe voyaging. HERB KAWAINUI KANE Native Hawaiian artist, historian and co-founder of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, was the general designer and construction supervisor for Hokule’a. BEN FINNEY Cultural anthropologist and co-founder of the Polynesian Voyaging Society. Ben Finney, the visionary, the believer, the father of Hokule’a. TOMMY HOLMES 1945-1993, a freelance writer, was a co-founder of the Polynesian Voyaging Society. KAWIKA KAPAHULEHUA A Niihau native who speaks fluent Hawaiian, served as the canoe’s captain. MAU PIAILUG Micronesian islander, was the navigator on the historic trip to Tahiti and later was mentor to future Hawaiian navigators. MYRON ‘PINKY’ THOMPSON 1924-2001, was instrumental in laying the foundation for future ocean journeys by the Polynesian Voyaging Society. NAINOA THOMPSON Became on 1980 the first native Hawaiian in centuries to navigate a voyaging canoe from Hawaii to Tahiti. Nainoa Thompson, the navigator, the son of Hokule’a. EDDIE AIKAU 1946-1978, famous big-wave surfer, was lost after the Hokule’a was swamped on a 1978 voyage. IN HONOR OF THOSE WHO SERVED ABOARD THE HOKULE’A ON ITS FIRST VOYAGE TO AND FROM TAHITI. Mau Piailug, Clifford Ah Mow, Shorty Bertelmann, Ben Finney, Sam Kalalau, Boogie Kalama, Kawika Kapahuelehua, Buffalo Keaulana, John Kruse, Leonard Puputauiki, Dukie Kuahulu, Billy Richards, Snake Ah Hee, Kainoa Lee, Kimo Lyman, Gordon Pi’ianai’I, Penny Rawlins Martin, Maka’ala Yates, Ben Young, David Lewis, Nainoa Thompson, Mel Kinney, Tommy Holmes, Dave Lyman, Rodo Williams, Andy Esperito, Keani Reiner.

Structural arrangement.

Lines and arrangement of Hokule'a. Designed by Rudy Choy Redrawn by Richard Rhodes