HONOLULU (KHON2) -- The Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) is inviting the public to join in a series of special events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hōkūleʻa, Hawaii’s iconic voyaging canoe. Get Hawaii's latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You The celebrations will honor Hōkūleʻa’s journey from its historic launch to its inspiring role in cultural renewal and environmental advocacy across the Pacific. The festivities will begin on Saturday, March 8, 2025, with the 16th Annual Kualoa/Hakipuʻu Canoe Festival at Kualoa Regional Park from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. This free, family-friendly event will commemorate Hōkūleʻa’s first launch at the site where the canoe was assembled, blessed, and set into the ocean in 1975. The following day, Sunday, March 9, the Hōkūleʻa 50th Birthday Gala will take place from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Hawaii Convention Center. This fundraiser will celebrate Hōkūleʻa’s incredible legacy and raise funds to support PVS’s mission of preserving voyaging traditions and protecting the oceans. Wahiawā town hall scheduled to discuss proposed landfill On Monday, March 10, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., the public can enjoy dockside canoe tours of Hōkūleʻa at the Hawaii Convention Center. Visitors will have the chance to step aboard the canoe and hear from young crew members and navigators training for the Moananuiākea Voyage. The celebration will wrap up on Friday, March 14, with a special after-hours event at Bishop Museum from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The museum will feature exhibits and programming highlighting the history of traditional Polynesian voyaging and Hōkūleʻa’s enduring legacy. Hōkūleʻa, launched on March 8, 1975, has been a symbol of cultural revival, environmental advocacy, and a deeper connection to the earth and ocean. Join the Polynesian Voyaging Society in honoring the past 50 years of this historic canoe and looking ahead to the future. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news For more information and event updates, visit hokulea.com.