Blessing marks completion of repairs to treasured Kualoa wa‘a kaulua (double-hulled canoe)

Refurbishing cherished public resources while perpetuating the Native Hawaiian voyaging culture. Today, we recognized the hard work of Kualoa Regional Park and Kustom Vessels LLC staff who renovated three wa‘a kaulua (double-hulled canoe) as part of the park’s ocean recreation and education programming.
A blessing from Liko Hoe and DPR staff welcomed the wa‘a kaulua back into the Windward waters this morning. Though the ceremony predominantly saw sunny skies, a quick downpour fell precisely as Liko blessed the vessels with wai (water) and pa‘akai (salt), following an opening pule (prayer). Then it was time for keiki and teens from our Summer Fun Program to enjoy their Kualoa excursion, taking turns with voyages aboard the three vessels. The Hawaiian sailing wa‘a holds about 20 keiki and staff, while the paddling wa‘a can hold about eight each. The wa‘a are estimated to be about 25 years old
Staff estimate these efforts saved the City thousands of dollars, while completing the tasks quickly. Just in time for summer!
One of DPR’s larger and culturally significant park locations, the over 153-acre Kualoa Regional Park hosts two campgrounds, one of DPR’s designated ocean recreation sites, and the annual Kualoa/Hakipu‘u Wa‘a Festival. For over a decade, this festival has sought to highlight and continue Hawai‘i’s oceangoing traditions, with the area remaining an important part of Hawai‘i’s voyaging history. The festival is frequently blessed with a visit from the Hōkūleʻa and numerous other voyaging organizations and their vessels, such as the Kānehūnāmoku. The event also serves as a birthday celebration for the Hōkūleʻa, commemorating her initial launch from the sacred shores of Kualoa/Hakipuʻu in Kāneʻohe Bay, Oʻahu, on March 8, 1975.
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