Hōkūleʻa prepares to circumnavigate the Pacific guided by the stars, winds and waves

After five years of planning and preparation, Hōkūleʻa is set for a four-year voyage around the Pacific starting this summer.

The Moananuiākea Voyage will see hundreds of crew members take part in a global education campaign. Their mission is to help navigate the Earth toward a more sustainable future.

Chants and prayers were offered to Kanaloa, the Hawaiian god of the ocean, in a ceremony Tuesday to bless the double-hulled canoe Hōkūleʻa and the crew members seeking permission to travel the Pacific.