More than 100 people assembled at Tisbury Wharf Tuesday afternoon to watch the arrival of the Hokule’a, a replica of a traditional Polynesian sailing ship. The ship has traveled the world since 1975, and it's credited with revitalizing Hawaiian culture.
As the Hokule’a docked at Vineyard Haven, members of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head stood on the wharf playing drums and singing an honor song. They showered the visiting Hawaiians with gifts, songs, and meaningful speeches, while students from the Edgartown School offered a bounty of plants and flowers from their garden.
Summer resident Chris Lomaka watched as people cheered and hugged. Lomaka said the ceremony reminded him of his own cultural background.
"This is just so moving," she said, "and the amazing thing is, having been welcomed into my own culture in Ukraine once, this is sort of what it felt like to me. And it just makes me weep. The open-hearted generosity of come-and-be-with-us-and-be-a-part-of-us, it is really extraordinary."
The double-hulled canoe will stay in the Vineyard for three days, before sailing to Woods Hole and Cape Cod on Friday, where more celebrations are planned with the Wampanoag of Mashpee. From there, it's off to New Bedford, and then Boston. She'll end her East Coast journey in Maine, come late July.