Voyaging canoe arrives in Rapa Nui

10:31 am on 1 March 2017

The Hawaiian voyaging canoe Hōkūle'a has arrived in Rapa Nui after sailing for 16 days for 3500 kilometres.

The Hawaiian voyaging canoe, Hōkūle'a, set out on a trip around the world in 2013 to promote traditional sailing techniques and marine conservation.

The Hawaiian voyaging canoe, Hōkūle'a. Photo: 'Oiwi Tv / Kaipo Ki'aha

A team of four apprentice navigators sailed the vessel using traditional techniques on its latest voyage to promote marine conservation.

They used the stars and nature to guide the vessel from the Galapagos islands.

The captain Archie Kalepa said finding small, remote Rapa Nui was one of the biggest challenges the crew has faced.

"We had a lot of veteran crew members on this particular leg and the job that the veterans did to support this young navigation team was a fine example of we as a people. If we work together, we support one another, there is very little that we cannot accomplish."

From Rapa Nui the Hōkūle'a will sail to French Polynesia before her return to Hawai'i in June.