Most Hawaii residents get fish from a grocery store, but in Yakutat, Alaska, it’s caught fresh. Crew members with the Hawaiian voyaging canoe, Hokulea, got in a day of fishing during their downtime.

“We must come together as ocean people."

While sailing from port to port is grueling, crew members of the Hokulea do have some down time so they took part in one of Hawaii’s favorite sports in Alaska.

The trek from the Yakutat Boat Harbor to Hubbard Glacier takes about an hour by small boat.

Leaving the dock at Yakutat Bay, Polynesian Voyaging Society President and pwo (master) navigator Nainoa Thompson was leading the sail with his trademark calculated intensity.

All this week, Hawaii News Now will be bringing to you stories from Yakutat, Alaska where the crew of the Hokule’a started its Heritage Sail. This is a pre-voyage before embarking on a 4-year Pacific-wide journey from Juneau next month.

Hawaiian voyaging canoe Hokulea is now in Juneau, Alaska and will sail along the coastline before launching on a 4-year voyage around the Pacific this summer. It’s the canoe’s first trip to Alaska.

At the Marine Education Training Center in Sand Island, crew members work with award-winning Chef Mark Noguchi to learn about nutrition, food safety, and meal preparation.

Members of the voyaging canoe Hokulea are enduring painful cold water training. It’s all to prepare for their voyage around the Pacific that starts in Alaska this summer.

Hokulea went on a different type of voyage to Tacoma, Washington on board a Matson container ship.

On June 17, Hokulea will depart on the Moananuiakea Voyage (“a voyage for Earth”), traveling 43,000 miles around the Pacific.

“It feels like I’m connected to my roots and being Hawaiian."

Hokulea is a marvel to behold.

The Polynesian Voyaging Society is preparing for another journey at sea.