On June 28, Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia sailed into Papeʻetē to an emotional, high-energy welcome from thousands across Tahiti, Hawaiʻi, and beyond. They were joined by the Tahitian canoe Fa‘afaite and an escort of paddlers and jet skis in a moment that celebrated 49 years since Hōkūleʻa’s first legendary landing in 1976.

That historic arrival helped spark a cultural renaissance—and this return, at what is now Hōkūleʻa Beach, felt like a true homecoming.

“It was here 49 years ago that Hōkūleʻa reminded us who we are,” said Nainoa Thompson, navigator and CEO of the Polynesian Voyaging Society. “Today, we honor the spirit of voyaging and the ancestors who showed us the way.”

The celebration included traditional chants, hula, blessings, and ceremonies led by crews from Hawaiʻi, Tahiti, and Taiwan. Earlier in the week, the canoes made their first landfall at the sacred site of Taputapuātea on Raʻiātea, the spiritual hub of Polynesian navigation.

This voyage is part of the Moananuiākea Voyage—a four-year journey to share ancestral knowledge and strengthen Pacific connections.

Watch Hōkūleʻa’s arrival in Papeʻetē here or embedded below.

Big mahalo to the many partners who made this unforgettable homecoming possible!