Hōkūleʻa Behind The Design
Honoring the Journey: Our Hōkūleʻa Collaboration
Some collaborations are born from a design idea. Others are born from a deep, personal connection. For our co-founder, Heather, this collection is both. Heather’s uncle, Dr. Pat Aiu, was a former crew member with the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) during Hōkūleʻa’s early years, and her family has long supported the canoe’s mission to keep traditional Polynesian wayfinding alive. Fun Fact: Heather's sister, Tina Aiu, also trained to be a crew member!
The opportunity to collaborate with PVS for the 50th birthday and honor the waʻa (canoe) felt like a full circle moment—a way to celebrate a legacy that’s close to her heart while helping to carry its mission forward.
The Story Behind the Design
Our design team dove deep into the history and iconography of Hōkūleʻa, exploring decades of archival imagery, hand-drawn illustrations, and vintage logos. The result is a print that tells a story—layered with visual elements that honor her voyages across nearly 300,000 miles of open ocean, all navigated without modern instruments. Each motif is a nod to the canoe’s enduring spirit of exploration, connection, and cultural pride.
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Packed with Purpose
More than just beautiful design, this collection is made to voyage—whether you’re headed across the ocean or across town. And because purpose matters as much as product, 5% of profits from this collection will go directly to the Polynesian Voyaging Society to support its mission and help educate the next generation of navigators and ocean stewards.
A Tribute to a Movement
Since her launch in 1975 and maiden voyage in 1976, Hōkūleʻa has been more than a canoe—she has been a catalyst for cultural renewal. Her journeys have reawakened pride in heritage, reconnected communities to their language and homeland, and inspired people around the world to care for our shared planet.
For us, this collaboration is more than a celebration of a milestone year. It’s a way to honor the past, support the present, and invest in the future—so the story of the waʻa, and the values she carries, continue for generations to come.