OluKai x Polynesian Voyaging Society are bringing awareness to single-use plastic pollution and climate change through the Alahula Kai o Maleka voyage. The Hikianalia, a traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe, is sailing more than 2,800 miles across the Pacific from Hawaii to California, carrying a message about the critical need to protect our Island Earth.
“A thriving earth depends on the health of our oceans. Our hope is that the Alahula Kai O Maleka Voyage will bring more attention to the critical need for action to save our oceans now for the future of humanity. We appreciate the efforts of OluKai to support this voyage by amplifying this message.” — Nainoa Thompson, president, Polynesian Voyaging Society
To mark this purposeful voyage, OluKai is releasing the Hikianalia commemorative sandal, pictured right, featuring laser-etched art in the leather footbed depicting the voyaging canoe and the constellation Hānaiakamalama–a guiding light of navigators for finding the Hawaiian Islands.
The strap features an embossing of the Kai Aniani pattern, created by Hawaiian artist Keola Nakaʻahiki Rapozo, symbolizing the Ipu Ka Honua, a reflection of the skyscape in a bowl of water. The limited-edition menʻs sandal is available for purchase online at OluKai.com.
The Hikianalia arrived in San Francisco on September 16 coinciding with the Global Climate Action Summit. A 13-person crew is sailing the solar and wind-powered canoe using ancient Polynesian wayfinding techniques, following cues from the sun, stars, waves and birds, without the use of any modern instruments or GPS. The Hikianalia crew is collecting samples of plastic in the ocean along the way to assist in plastic pollution research.
“A thriving earth depends on the health of our oceans. Our hope is that the Alahula Kai O Maleka Voyage will bring more attention to the critical need for action to save our oceans now for the future of humanity,” said Nainoa Thompson, president, Polynesian Voyaging Society. “We appreciate the efforts of OluKai to support this voyage by amplifying this message.”
Lead and second photo courtesy Polynesian Voyaging Society. Photographer Lead Photo Kaimana Pine. Sandal photo coutesy OluKai
