Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Welcomes Hokulea to Washington, DC

Press Release

Today, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) joined hundreds at the Old Town Alexandria Waterfront Park to welcome the Hokulea as it came down the Potomac River to Washington, DC. The congresswoman toured the Hokulea, welcomed the crew and all those present for the arrival ceremony, and enjoyed music and dance presented by local halaus and the Piscataway Conoy Tribe of Maryland.

"It was wonderful to see so many people from Hawaii and the Pacific come together to welcome the historic Hokulea to our nation's capital today. Through their travels across the globe, Hokulea and her crew have united people and nations through a mission of Malama Honua--caring for our home, our place. Malama Honua includes sharing the aloha spirit with people around the world, and is something that each of us can take to heart and apply in our lives every single day. As we welcome the Hokulea to Washington DC, we are reminded that we each have a responsibility to make our oceans, our land, and our home a safer, cleaner, and better place."

Hokulea has voyaged traditionally for 40 years, sailing over 150,000 nautical miles throughout the Pacific. Since leaving Hawaii on the "Malama Honua" worldwide voyage, the Hokulea has travelled to more than 12 countries and 55 ports. In March 2016, Hokulea touched the continental US for the first time in the Everglades of Florida, and has since sailed up the East Coast of the U.S. The crew will spend a week in Washington, DC before setting sail to New York City to join the World Oceans Day events hosted by the United Nations on June 8, 2016.

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