Aloha! Please help us establish the first ever traditional Hawaiian sailing program on the island of Molokaʻi.

Our story:

The island of Molokaʻi has played a significant role in the rebirth of traditional Polynesian wayfinding through individuals like Aunty Penny Martin and Uncle Mel Paoa, iconic members of the Polynesian Voyaging Society and original crewmembers of Hokuleʻa. It has been their dream that Molokaʻi have a traditional canoe (waʻa) sailing program to educate the island’s community about this deep legacy and to provide training opportunities for seafaring.

In recent decades, many others from Molokaʻi have trained and sailed with the larger open ocean canoes at the Polynesian Voyaging Society, Maui’s Hui o Waʻa Kaulua, and other waʻa programs around the Pacific. It is these individuals who are now forming Hui Waʻa o Molokaʻi, united in their commitment to carry forward the vision of Aunty Penny and Uncle Mel and to re-establish Molokaʻi’s waʻa legacy for generations to come. This is our goal as we work to establish Hui Waʻa o Molokaʻi as a community-based nonprofit 501c3.

Our mission is to empower our families and youth with ʻike kupuna and a deep, enduring connection to ʻāina, kai, and community through the practice and teaching of all aspects of waʻa.

Our vision is Molokaʻi having the space, resources, and programs for perpetuating traditional Polynesian voyaging knowledge and practice as a foundation for cultural revitalization, environmental stewardship, and community-based education that will uplift our island and people for many generations.

Why this is needed:

Molokaʻi is home to 8000 residents and has the highest per capita population of Native Hawaiians among the main Hawaiian islands. Extra-curricular opportunities are limited, but the island offers a lifestyle of close-knit families and deep connection to culture and environment. The continuance of this unique way of life is under threat due to the growing pressures and distractions of modern society. There are currently no programs on the island that connect community and youth to culturally based sailing practices and culture.

Why we will be successful:

In recent decades, hui waʻa (traditional sailing and wayfinding programs), have been established on the other main Hawaiian islands. This tight network of wa’a organizations have created strong models of success and a community of support and shared resources. We have the guidance and expertise of this wa’a network to help us build our own unique program based on their knowledge and proven success. We also have a core group of Molokaʻi residents with deep waʻa, voyaging, and sailing experience who are committed to fulfilling the mission and vision of Hui Waʻa O Molokai.

How funds will be used:

We will use donated funds to help pay for the process of incorporating our organization into a nonprofit 501c3. This includes legal counsel and application fees. We also need to setup accounting systems and write grants for additional funding as we work to establish educational programs and pursue a land acquisition opportunity.

Mahalo nui from all of the founding members of Hui Waʻa o Molokaʻi.