Escort Boat

After the voyage of 1978, when crew member Eddie Aikau was lost at sea in an attempt to rescue the crew of the overturned Hōkūle‘a, it was decided that the canoe would not voyage again without an escort boat with which it would maintain regular radio communication.

There are several boats that escort Hōkūle‘a. For short day sails, the Ikaika provides excellent support. For longer voyages, the Kama Hele serves as the escort.

For the Worldwide Voyage, a new state-of-the-art vessel demonstrating sustainability is being planned.