A Tauranga man embarking on a world-wide waka journey has just left Hawaii to begin the three-year journey.
Thousands turned out to see the Hokulea waka as it left Waikiki about 4pm on Sunday with local man Jack Thatcher on board.
Mr Thatcher is a master of celestial navigation.
Bay of Plenty Times columnist Tommy Wilson said of the celebrations in Hawaii, It was doing what they knew their ancestors did a long, long time ago.
The double-hulled sailing canoe (waka hourua) will travel past the Cook Islands and Tonga, reaching Tauranga in October.
