Hōkūleʻa departed Seattle’s Bell Harbor Marina yesterday at approximately 8 a.m. for a four-hour sail to Tacoma, the next port of call on the Moananuiākea Voyage. The iconic voyaging canoe approached Brown’s Point at around 11 a.m. to request permission of the Puyallup Tribe to enter their waters and lands. After traditional protocols, the Puyallup canoes escorted the Hōkuleʻa to the waterway fronting Thea’s Park where they were welcomed by the local outrigger canoe community for a water welcome. Hundreds waited to witness the arrival of Hōkūleʻa at Foss Waterway Seaport.
Following landfall protocols, a formal ceremony hosted by the Tribal Nations and the City of Tacoma was held inside the Foss Museum. Welcome remarks were shared by tribal leaders; Kristina Walker, Deputy Mayor of Tacoma; John McCarthy, Commissioner of the Port of Tacoma and others.
After the welcome ceremony, the Hōkūleʻa crew was presented with a lineup of performances by the area’s Pacific Islander communities representing Samoa, Tahiti, Aotearoa and others. The event ended with a presentation by Hōkūleʻa Captain Bruce Blankenfeld.
Weather-permitting, Hōkūleʻa will remain at the Foss Waterway Seaport until September 5. The crew will conduct public canoe tours this Friday, Sept. 1, 1-4 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 2, 9-11 a.m. and 1-4 p.m.. Hōkūleʻa’s next stop will be Port Townsend, WA.
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