Hokualaka'i is quite different from previously constructed open-ocean canoes, in that it is heavily made from composite materials (fiberglass, foam, etc.), and not from wood. It makes it ligher, faster, and safer as a laboratory for our school programs.

I didn't get any pictures during the actual arrival ceremonies as I got recruited to paddle a smaller canoe carrying the photographer from the Hilo Tribune-Herald into the harbor so he could get some better shots.