Welcome to Tāmaki Makaurau, Hōkūle’a and Hikianalia!

Two traditional Hawaiian waka arrived in New Zealand in November following an epic two-week voyage from Rarotonga, navigating the ocean using traditional wayfinding knowledge. 

Earlier this year, we were fortunate to hear from master navigator Stan Conrad at our ‘Talks and Tours’ event, hosted by the New Zealand Maritime Museum. 

Stan has been involved with waka (canoes) from a young age, learning from his ancestors, first sailed on Hōkūle’a when he was just 22 years old for its maiden voyage, sailing between Rarotonga and Aotearoa in 1985. 

At the time, Stan was a young commercial fisherman from a big family in New Zealand’s far north. 

Through the voyage, his interest in deeper learning about his ancestors and voyaging was sparked. Stan spent some years in Hawaii learning the traditions of sailing waka, discovering the story of the ancient navigator Tupua, and his connection with the arrival of ancestral waka in Aotearoa. 

In his talk, Stanley described the role of his uncle Sir Hector (Hek) Busby and Mau Piailug; traditional knowledge and practices; the impact of climate change, shipping traffic and pollution on traditional navigation; his excitement about the revival of voyaging and navigation in the Pacific; and the importance of traditional knowledge to this journey. 

Photos / Polynesian Voyaging Society and Supplied

Earlier this year, marine author Ivor Wilkins wrote about the preservation of traditional boatbuilding and ocean navigating skills for Seahorse Magazine. Here is his story.