"The Arrival" of Ancient Polynesian Sailing Canoes into Hilo Bay 6-19-2011 (#3)

The pageantry of Sunday's international meeting was special event for the Big Island of Hawaii. Welcomed to Moku o Keawe by the sound of the conch shell, the voyagers answered back from the shallow sea. The first in line, the crew of the Haunui vaka, performed a traditional haka dance, to the delight of the crowd along the packed beach.

Down the canoe line it went... as each of the seven arriving vaka gave their hosts a cultural salute, revealing the comon bonds shared between the people of the Pacific Islands.

The fleet set sail from Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas Islands earlier this month. The canoes are sailing under the auspices of the Okeanos Foundation, which is dedicated to the preservation of the world's oceans and marine life.

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