11 Nov 2014

Dolphins greet Hawaiian canoes

7:12 pm on 11 November 2014

Two double-hulled ocean canoes from Hawaii on a trip to raise awareness about the environment have arrived in the Bay of Islands and greeted by a pod of playful dolphins.

The Hokule'a is on its final leg of the Malama Honua World-Wide Voyage.

The Hokule'a is on its final leg of the Malama Honua World-Wide Voyage. Photo: Hokule'a Crew / Facebook

The Hokule'a and Hikianalia left Pago Pago in American Samoa on 16 October for Aotearoa and have travelled about 1500 nautical miles to reach Cape Reinga.

The waka are on their final leg of the Malama Honua World-Wide Voyage.

Master Hawaiian navigator Nainoa Thompson said besides spreading its environmental protection message, the crew wanted to work with Maori to help care for the moana.

He said the crew was keen to learn as much as they could from Maori and the environment, and take that knowledge back to Hawaii.

Mr Thompson said they wanted to instil in the younger generation what they need to know to deal and adapt to change to the whenua and moana.

The Hokule'a's return to Aotearoa today is the first visit to the country since she sailed the Voyage of Rediscovery in 1985, retracing the routes of settlement used by Polynesian ancestors.

The Polynesian waka first arrived in New Zealand 40 years ago and helped reignite the ancient art of waka building and celestial navigation techniques used by Maori ancestors.

The crew would officially be welcomed at Waitangi on Saturday.

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