Iosepa: The Voyaging Canoe and Classroom

What is the Iosepa Voyaging Canoe?

Iosepa is a double-hulled traditional voyaging canoe that was built in 2001. Designed and built by master carvers Sione Tuione Pulotu and Kawika Eskaran, the Iosepa canoe was made from seven dakua logs imported from Fiji.   

Why is the Canoe Named Iosepa?

“Iosepa” is the Hawaiian form of the name “Joseph.” The canoe was named in honor of Joseph F. Smith, an early and influential missionary to the Polynesian islands with ties to Lāʻie and the surrounding islands. Learn more about his connection to the canoe in Iosepa’s Story, published in Ke Alakaʻi magazine at BYU–Hawaii.

Watch the story behind Iosepa's name and learn the rich history that the voyaging canoe holds for the Lāʻie community. 

Iosepa's Purpose: A Floating Classroom

The Iosepa voyaging canoe was designed through BYU–Hawaii's Hawaiian Studies program to give students hands-on opportunities to learn traditional Polynesian navigation, develop teamwork skills, and connect with Polynesian history. 

As a floating classroom, Iosepa offers a unique way to experience Hawaiian culture beyond the classroom. Students and crew members can explore the principles of Hawaiian wayfinding, learning how traditional navigators use their knowledge of the natural world to travel across the ocean. 

The voyagers include educators, cultural leaders, community volunteers, and BYU–Hawaii students. Together, they strengthen their connections to their kūpuna (ancestors), their community, and the cultural traditions that continue to shape life in Hawaiʻi. Follow the Iosepa voyagers on Instagram. 

For BYU–Hawaii student and Iosepa voyager Elijah Faleolo, the canoe sparked a passion for sailing and traditional navigation that continues to shape his life today. 

“Iosepa is the whole reason I got into sailing and traditional navigation and voyaging.” 

For Elijah, voyaging is about more than navigating the ocean. It’s a practice that builds faith and influences how he approaches every aspect of his life. 

“Voyaging is a practice that takes not just great skill but great faith. That is the faith that I strive to cultivate as I continue to voyage not just on Iosepa or other canoes but in my home, at work, in school, at church, and wherever else my sails take me.”

Through its ongoing educational mission, Iosepa helps preserve and share the knowledge and values at the heart of traditional Polynesian navigation. 

Visit Iosepa at the Polynesian Cultural Center

Visit Iosepa at the Polynesian Cultural Center’s Islands of Polynesia and explore hands-on activities like star navigation and wooden canoe puzzles. Buy your tickets today!