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Ku Holo La Komohana / Sail On to the Western Sun Celebrating over 125 years of Historical Connections and Intercultural Exchanges between Hawai'i and Japan 2007 Voyage to Japan
Okinawa Sunset In April and May 2007, after accompanying Mau and Alingano Maisu to Micronesia, the Polynesian Voyaging Society will sail Hokule‘a from Palau to Japan to honor and perpetuate historic cross-cultural connections and intercultural exchanges between Hawai’i and Japan. (Here are the Sail plans for Micronesia and Japan.)
The progress of the voyage can be followed via the 2007 Voyages to Micronesia and Japan BLOG. Read more about Hokule'a in Nihongo (Japanese), see the "Spirit of Hokule’a" at the Hawai'i Tourism Japan website.
In 1881, King David Kalakaua was the first state leader to meet with Emperor Meiji after the opening of Japan. The two heads of state saw the importance of building global relationships and the value of cultural exchanges. Kalakaua requested and Meiji signed an agreement in 1885 allowing the immigration of Japanese workers to Hawai‘i. The result has been cultural exchanges between Hawai‘i and Japan, and intercultural lives. The issei (first generation immigrants) and their descendants have contributed to the growth and well-being of a multicultural community in Hawai‘i. The voyage will nurture multi-generational, multicultural family ties and provide an opportunity for cultural exchanges, with Hawai'i sharing with the Japanese the story of Hokule'a and the renaissance of Hawaiian culture and pride. The voyage will also celebrate Hawai‘i’s cultural diversity, honor our ancestors, encourage stewardship of our environment, and contribute to global peace by fostering cultural understanding and appreciation. This voyage is planned with the assistance of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i (JCCH), the Japan America Society of Hawai'i (JASH), the United Japanese Society of Hawai‘i, the Hawaii United Okinawa Association, the Honolulu Kumamoto Kenjin Kai, the Nagasaki Kenjin Kai, the Hawaii Fukuoka Kenjin Kai, the Honolulu Yamaguchi Kenjin Kai, the Honolulu Hiroshima Kenjin Kai, and the Hawaii Kanagawa Kenji Kai. The name of the voyage ”Ku Holo La Komohana / Sail On to the Western Sun” was given to PVS by Lilikala Kame'eleihiwa. On the Hawaiian star compass, komohana, the western sun, marks the sailing direction from Hawai'i to Japan. Links for information on the stops:
Links to Prefecture / City Websites
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