Before embarking on this 3-year quest to mālama honua, and raise awareness about the importance of caring for our planet, Hōkūleʻa needed some TLC herself. More than 35 years of sailing and over 150,000 nautical miles had taken its toll on her. But as it’s been since the day she was born, Hōkūleʻa drew her ʻohana together.
“People would just show up and help us do all of the nasty work that we had to do to break her down and get her back together. The work was all done all with aloha all with love,” says Pwo Navigator, Bruce Blankenfeld.
18 months and over 26,000 man-hours later, she was 2000 lbs lighter, 22 inches wider, more sturdy and safe than ever before.
“I think what we are looking at now is we’re looking at a rebirth, if you will, Hōkūleʻa that will probably be good for 25, 30, 35 years. I don’t think they are going to have to have this major boat building campaign again until the next generation is my age,” says captain, Bob Perkins.