Na Mokupuni Na Kupuna

Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Voyaging Society

Our Mission

"The purpose of the Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Voyaging Society is to perpetuate through education and experience the Hawaiian culture of traditional long distance outrigger canoe voyaging throughout all the Hawaiian islands; to uphold the unique and fragile beauty and power of the ocean; to practice an obligation of responsible stewardship and harmony between man and nature; to strengthen cultural and spiritual connections to the Hawaiian islands; and to experience the harmony, strength and respect that arises when men and women of all ages paddle a canoe towards a common goal."

About HOCVS

Each year millions of seabirds, sea turtles, fish, and marine mammals become entangled in marine debris or ingest plastics which they have mistaken for food. Whales mistake plastic bags for squid, and birds may mistake plastic pellets for fish eggs. At other times, animals accidentally eat the plastic while feeding on natural food.

Kure Atoll, which lies 1380 miles from Honolulu, is not immune from this issue. The atoll lies in the path of a major Pacific current,resulting in tons of fishing nets and debris washing up on the reefs and beaches, which pose an entanglement hazard for monk seals, turtles, seabirds, fish and lobsters. In 2003 alone 2700 pounds of marine debris was removed from Kure, including 997 pounds removed from accumulation study areas that were cleaned of all marine debris just the year before. These accumulation study areas, called HERZ or High Entanglement Risk Zones, are important indicator areas for how quickly marine debris is accumulating in areas that are known to be frequented by monk seals.

The Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Voyaging Society has adopted this issue as the centerpiece of the final leg of the Voyage to Kure Atoll. The crew members will be participating in the clean up and disposal of marine debris in the Northwest Hawaiian Island National Marine Monument.

In May of 2003, a group of individuals started an incredible and unprecedented multi-year journey through the entire Hawaiian Archipelago. Diligent planning started in anticipation of continuing into the NW islands where only ancient Polynesian seafarers traveled hundreds of years ago. October of 2004 witnessed the first steps into the NW islands when thirteen men and one woman, paddled a six-person canoe in rotation for 28 hours to the Island of Nihoa (Moku Manu).

Learn more: HOCVS.ORG