
Penny Rawlins
Penny Martin (formerly Rawlins) has had a profound impact on the voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa and the Polynesian Voyaging Society. As one of the youngest crewmembers and one of only two women on Hōkūleʻa’s first iconic 1976 journey, she helped rekindle a cultural renaissance by demonstrating that traditional Polynesian navigation could guide a canoe across the Pacific. Over the decades, Penny has dedicated herself to educating future generations, helping bring Hōkūleʻa to her home island of Molokai for cultural events and school visits. Her commitment has strengthened community ties to Hōkūleʻa’s legacy, ensuring its role as a symbol of cultural pride and resilience.