HONOLULU (KHON2) — As Hōkūleʻa prepares to celebrate her 50th anniversary, KHON2 looks back at her triumphs and her tragedies.

In the special Hōkūleʻa: Decades of Discovery, we hear from some of the men and women who accomplished what many thought to be impossible and we retrace the journeys that have reconnected people and cultures.

“Hōkūleʻa is symbolic. So when you think about it, maybe those same stars that guided our ancestors could still somehow guide all the peoples of Hawaiʻi today to reach the landfills still untouched,” said Ben Young.

“I really felt a lot of ways, like a child and blind in a good way. Because all you needed to do is just open up. To open up and be free to take in these learning opportunities,” explained Nainoa Thompson.

We also ask the question: What is the future of Hōkūleʻa and what might the next generation of navigators bring us?