Iosepa Canoe Story: Wayfinding & Ancient Polynesian Sailing

Iosepa’s 25^th Anniversary

Honoring a Legacy of Voyaging, Culture, and Community

Celebrating 25 years since Iosepa first touched the water in November 2001

Plan your visit

Come Experience the Legacy of Navigators Who Sailed by the Stars

See Iosepa, a powerful symbol of our seafaring heritage, in Lāʻie.

Buy Tickets Anniversary Dates

Find Iosepa at the Iosepa Learning Center, at the north end of the grounds past the Hawaiʻi village. Full park map →

Polynesian Cultural Center park map with the Iosepa Learning Center marked at the north end of the grounds

Iosepa: Voyaging Waʻa

25 Years at a Glance

A traditional double-hulled voyaging canoe, carved in Lāʻie and cared for by BYU–Hawaiʻi and the Polynesian Cultural Center.

2001

First launched in November

7

Dakua logs from Fiji

9

Months to build

8

Major voyages

1970s
The voyaging renaissance beginsPolynesians set out to relearn how their ancestors built seafaring canoes and navigated the open ocean.
2001
Carved in Lāʻie and launchedMaster carvers Sione Tuione Pulotu and Kawika Eskaran lead the community build. Iosepa launches in November.
2001–
A floating classroomStudents learn construction, rigging, maintenance and wayfinding, with short sailing excursions about every two years.
2024
FestPACIosepa sails with other voyaging canoes for the Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture.
2026
25th anniversaryA symposium at BYU–Hawaiʻi, a launch from Haleʻiwa, an arrival at Kahana Bay and a 25th-anniversary homecoming at Hukilau Beach in Lāʻie.

The Iosepa Story

The Voyaging Canoe Renaissance Blossoms

Master carver Sione Tuione Pulotu making the first cut for Iosepa — Sione Tuione Pulotu makes the first cut

An ember grows

Relearning the ways of the ancestors

Fifty years ago, Polynesians began to ask how their ancestors had navigated the great waters and settled the island nations. Those who still knew how to build seafaring canoes came together with those who wanted to learn, determined to keep this part of their culture alive.

WatchThe Iosepa Story

Carved in Lāʻie

Seven dakua logs, nine months, one community

In Lāʻie on Oʻahu, that drive led to Iosepa, a traditional double-hulled voyaging canoe. Master carvers Sione Tuione Pulotu and Kawika Eskaran designed and built her from seven huge dakua logs imported from Fiji, with help from many community members.

The build took nine months. In November 2001, Iosepa was launched for the first time.

A crew member steering Iosepa at sea — Steering Iosepa at sea

A floating classroom

Eight voyages and generations of students

Iosepa has made eight major voyages, including sailing with other voyaging canoes at the 2024 FestPAC celebration. Between voyages she is a teaching vessel: students learn construction, maintenance, rigging and wayfinding, and about every two years some put those skills to work on short excursions from shore.

BYU–Hawaiʻi and the Polynesian Cultural Center jointly house and maintain Iosepa. Students, community members and hundreds of thousands of visitors see her there every year.

WatchThe meaning behind the name

Why “Iosepa”

Named for Joseph F. Smith

Iosepa honors Joseph F. Smith, an early and influential missionary to the islands. He and other “Josephs” in scripture and history have had a lasting impact on the people of Lāʻie and the surrounding area.

Built to teach both Polynesian canoe building and the discipline of caring for important things and people, the canoe has turned the hearts of the children to their fathers.

“It is a tremendous thing to lose sight of the land and continue on. And because our ancestors were willing to do that, we have the opportunities and the blessings that we have in our lives today.”

P. Alfred Grace · President, Polynesian Cultural Center

Caring for the waʻa

A Vessel That Teaches Its Crew

Restoring the Iosepa

Caring for the vessel is one of the most important principles of sailing. As Iosepa came out of storage to return to her role as an ocean ambassador, volunteers rallied to the cause, and those lessons of care and teamwork spread to the wider ʻohana, the community.

WatchLessons from the Iosepa

Lessons from the Iosepa

Iosepa is a floating classroom for construction and seafaring skills. More importantly, her crews learn to work as a team within a structure where everyone depends on everyone else, caring for the vessel and for each other. Those lessons carry over into every part of a happy, fulfilled life.

Gallery