Iosepa: Ancient wayfairing returns to Hawaii

This magnificent 57-foot double hulled canoe was commissioned and built in 2001 through a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, under the direction of Sione Tuione Pulotu with assistance from master carver Kawika Eskaran. It is designed as a sailing classroom as part of BYU-Hawai‘i’s Hawaiian Studies program so that students can learn ancient navigational skills, connect to their Polynesian history and experience an adventure of a lifetime.

Volunteers from the community including BYU-Hawai‘i students participated in its construction, which took an amazingly quick 8 months. Kawika has shared that numerous miracles took place in the construction process. “Many times we were faced with an issue we did not know how to address. We would pray to our ancestors for guidance, we would have faith, and soon an answer would come. It would always come.”

“Unlike most other contemporary canoes which are built out of fiberglass with modern technology,” stated Von Orgill, former President of Polynesian Cultural Center, “the Iosepa is hand-carved out of dakua wood transported from Fiji. Iosepa’s spirit is very strong. It not only connects the Polynesian Cultural Center with BYU-Hawai‘i, but also unites the entire Hawaiian community and residents of La‘ie.”

The Iosepa sails approximately every two years, circling the Hawaiian Islands. Students are selected as crew members and are taught the ancient skills of navigation by the stars. They visit ports along the islands so that they can share the unique and powerful history of ancient navigation with Hawaiian communities. The crew is met with great ceremony. They receive “aloha” or “mana”, and they share “i’ ke”. And then, as a way to honor and bless others, the crew takes time to perform service to the community.

This powerful ship, housed in the “Halau Wa’o o Iosepa” (Canoe House of Learning), bridges not only those of Polynesian descent with their kapuna, or ancestors, through their voyages, it helps them to connect to the world by sharing its beauty and purpose to the visitors of the Polynesian Cultural Center.