OluKai Supports Mahalo, Hawai’i Sail Between Hawaiian Islands

August 22, 2017

Multi-year Partnership with Polynesian Voyaging Society Continues as Hōkūle'a Begins her Statewide Voyage

Maui, HI ─ August 22, 2017 ─ OluKai, the premium, Hawaiian-inspired lifestyle brand and its nonprofit, the Ama OluKai Foundation are excited to continue a multi-year partnership with the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) by supporting the Mahalo, Hawai’i Sail. The six-month inter-island journey kicked-off on August 16 when the voyaging canoe Hōkūle‘a sailed from Honolulu, Hawai’i to Honolua Bay, Maui. Honolua Bay was chosen as the first stop on the Mahalo, Hawai’i Sail because it is the location where Hōkūle‘a launched for her maiden voyage in 1976 to Tahiti, the first voyaging canoe navigated celestially in more than 600 years.

This latest voyage is meant to bring the people of Hawai’i together, share lessons learned from the Malama Honua Worldwide Voyage, which the Hōkūle‘a recently returned from, and turn inspiration into action to protect Hawai’i and island earth.

“For Hōkūle‘a to return to Honolua Bay 41 years later is a turning point in the Malama Honua movement,” said Archie Kalepa, Hōkūle‘a Captain and OluKai Konohiki (Caretaker), “The outpouring of support from the local students, community and leadership demonstrates the pride Hawai’i has in Hōkūle‘a as well as the focus we have to help raise awareness of the issues impacting the world’s oceans.”

During the first stop in Honolua Bay, crewmembers from the Hōkūle‘a engaged with more than 1,200 students from Kamehameha Schools Maui and the community through presentations and canoe tours. Five thousand koa trees and other native plants were also planted in the Pu’u Kukui Watershed Preserve, the largest private nature preserve in the state of Hawai’i. The preserve spans more than nine thousand acres on Maui’s west side and is home to some of the most rare and endangered flora and fauna in the islands. The planting of the koa trees occurred because at one time they were used to make voyaging canoes, but today there are few left that are large enough to do so. This give back effort, with support from OluKai and the Ama OluKai Foundation, drew more than 500 volunteers and community leaders and will help reestablish the koa tree in Hawaii.

The Mahalo Hawai’i Sail will continue throughout the rest of 2017 and into 2018, engaging close to 100 Hawaiian communities, with stops at approximately 40 ports within the island chain.

For more information on the Mahalo Hawai’i Sail and for photos of the first leg of the journey visit http://www.hokulea.com/.

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About OluKai:

OluKai is a sought after lifestyle brand that believes everyone, no matter where they are, can live Aloha. OluKai products feature thoughtful design elements and handcrafted details inspired by the ocean lifestyle. We are committed to partnering with best-of-class retailers with whom we share an unwavering pursuit of excellence. OluKai’s spirit is shared by others through the Ama OluKai Foundation, a 501(c)(3) created to formalize the company’s giveback initiatives. Every OluKai sold supports Ama OluKai Foundation’s mission in Hawai‘i. For more information visit www.OluKai.com or #AnywhereAloha.

About Ama OluKai Foundation:
Inspired by the strong tradition of giving an offering or tribute in Polynesian culture, OluKai established the Ama OluKai Foundation, a private non-profit 501(c)(3) founded in Hawai’i. The Foundation seeks partnerships with organizations that are located in Hawaii who promote the Hawaiian culture from its ancestral past to present day and carry forward the spirit of giving for future generations. For more information visit www.amaolukaifoundation.org

About Hōkūle‘a:
A symbol of cultural revival, the history of Hōkūle‘a is also being shared on this journey to inspire other indigenous cultures. This replica of an ancient Polynesian voyaging canoe was built 40 years ago and revitalized voyaging and navigation traditions throughout the Pacific. The canoe’s twin hulls allow her to handle large ocean swells and recover easily in the troughs of waves, and her triangular canvas sails can harness winds up to 20 knots. Hokulea first set out on the Pacific Ocean in 1975. Through the revival of the traditional art and science of wayfinding (navigating the sea using only the ocean swells, stars, and wind) Hōkūle‘a sparked a Hawaiian cultural renaissance and has reawakened the world’s sense of pride and strength as voyagers charting a course for our Island Earth.

About the Polynesian Voyaging Society:
The Polynesian Voyaging Society was founded in 1973 on a legacy of Pacific Ocean exploration, seeking to perpetuate the art and science of traditional Polynesian voyaging and the spirit of exploration through experiential educational programs that inspire students and their communities to respect and care for themselves, one other, and their natural and cultural environments.