Hawaiiloa

Hawai‘iloa is the name of a legendary ocean navigator from the Marquesas or Society Islands believed to have been the first person to discover the Hawaiian Islands. After having accidentally stumbled upon the islands, he returned to his homeland which he called ka 'aina kai melemele a Kane. It translates from the Hawaiian language into the land of the yellow sea of Kane. He organized a colonizing expedition that included his family and eight other skilled navigators. They settled on what is now the Big Island of Hawai‘i;, named in his honor. The legend continues with a reference of his sons Kaua‘i;, O‘ahu; and Mau‘i;. It is believed that they are immortalized with the islands that bear their names.

The voyaging canoe Hawai‘iloa, a cultural and scientific vessel named after the legendary navigator, is now docked at Honolulu Harbor. It is often sailed on long voyages throughout the Pacific Ocean in hopes of studying voyaging techniques used in antiquity.