Aloha mai kākou,
This summer brings two milestones that shaped Hawaiʻi’s story. Hōkūleʻa marks 50 years since its first voyage and PBS Hawaiʻi marks 60 years of serving our islands.
In 1976, Hōkūleʻa left Honolua Bay on Maui for Tahiti using traditional navigation. That moment helped spark a cultural awakening across Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. It reminded us that our ancestors crossed the world’s largest ocean with skill, discipline and a clear understanding of the world around them. It also reminded us that Hawaiʻi’s stories matter.
As we look back, we also acknowledge the people who helped share that story with the world. One of them was filmmaker Dale Bell, who produced the first national film about Hōkūleʻa’s 1976 voyage. The 90-minute National Geographic special aired on PBS in January 1977 and introduced millions to the revival of wayfinding.
I carry my own memory of Hōkūleʻa that stays with me. Years ago, during an evening sail off Oʻahu, Master Navigator Nainoa Thompson and Lead Navigator Haunani Kane invited me to take the helm. The steering blade was worn from years of use and I remember how solid it felt in my hands. I was nervous, far from confident and focused on not making a mistake. That night gave me a small glimpse at the kind of trust and attention voyaging asks of the people who do it. For a few moments, I experienced a small part of what navigators must feel every time they place their confidence in the canoe, the crew and the ocean.
To honor and celebrate Hōkūleʻa’s legacy, PBS Hawaiʻi will dedicate PBS HAWAIʻI PRESENTS to a five-week series on Polynesian voyaging. The lineup includes rare and never-before rebroadcast programs, including the first replay in 50 years of PBS Hawaiʻi’s live coverage of Hōkūleʻa’s homecoming hosted by Al Harrington. We will feature several films from our archives, including Hōkūleʻa: Star of Gladness, The Return of the Hōkūleʻa and Voyage of Rediscovery.
Hōkūleʻa’s legacy extends far beyond the canoe itself. It lives in the people who continue to teach, learn and carry forward the traditions of voyaging. These are the navigators, teachers, kūpuna, keiki and communities across Oceania who are strengthening their cultural knowledge, caring for the ocean and ensuring these traditions endure for future generations.
As PBS Hawaiʻi marks 60 years, we recognize the important role public media plays in documenting these stories and making them accessible to our community. PBS Hawaiʻi provides a platform for local stories, perspectives and discussions that help deepen our understanding of Hawaiʻi and one another. That work continues on air, online and in the community with the same purpose that guided us in 1966.
Your trust and support make it possible for PBS Hawaiʻi to continue sharing local stories, preserving our history and serving communities across our island home.
