Hōkūle‘a
The Worldwide Voyage
Sail on Moana
In 1987 Hawai’i celebrated Ho’olåko Hawai’i, the Year of the Hawaiian. But there was virtually no programs or activities aimed at children, so Leon & Malia created a story-book cassette (yes, cassette!) so keiki had a way to participate in the celebration. It was a huge success! A few years later several of the songs were used a in Leon & Maliaʻs popular sing-along video, Keiki Calabash, and became mainstays in schools and homes throughout Hawai’i.
Hōkūle'a Homecoming 2017
Hōkūle‘a Song
The mid-seventies found Leon & Malia involved in the re-birth of the ancient Hawaii voyaging traditions in the form of the double-hulled sailing canoe, Hōkūle'a. In 1975, the year before Hōkūle'a’s maiden voyage from Hawaiʻi to Tahiti, Leon & Malia wrote and recorded a song called Hōkūle'a to celebrate that historic journey. It was released on their Haku Mele album in 1976 to wide acclaim.
That year Leon & Malia were chosen to write the soundtrack for the National Geographic television special, The Voyage of the Hōkūle'a which was released in 1977. It won the Drama Critics Award for Best Documentary Film. Besides awakening a sense of legacy and pride in Hawaiʻi, Hōkūle'a quickened the spirit of rediscovery, regeneration and cultural pride throughout Polynesia and Oceania.
Song Kits
In 1987 all of Hawaiʻi nei celebrated the Year of the Hawaiian. To encourage children’s participation in the celebration, Leon & Malia released a storybook/album called Hoʻolako Hawaiʻi. In it was a new Hōkūleʻa song for children. Over the years it has become a favorite sung by now four generations of kids in Hawaiʻi and all over the world.
Since its first voyage in 1976, Hōkūle'a has crisscrossed the Pacific many times and from 2014 - 2017 Hōkūle'a circumnavigated the world on a voyage called, Mālama Honua. For that journey Leon & Malia the Sail on Moana Song Kit used virtually everywhere by schools, community groups, home schoolers, families, etc.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hōkūle'a’s first voyage and in tribute to itʻs remarkable achievements, Leon & Malia have released an album called Hōkūle'a Tribute, a collection of six cuts, with four of their songs about Hōkūle'a, plus new versions of their first two Hōkūle'a songs in medley with two other canoe songs.
