Through faith, courage, and community, the voyaging canoe continues to connect generations and inspire those who carry its legacy forward.
Twenty-five years after the Iosepa first sailed, its legacy continues to unite people through faith, cultural identity, and a shared responsibility to honor those who came before. To commemorate the anniversary, BYU–Hawaii hosted a community celebration featuring university leaders, contributors to the canoe’s creation, and former voyagers who reflected on its lasting influence.
“Today is a spectacularly important day,” said Kelly R. Haws, academic vice president of BYU–Hawaii. “We’ve come a long way in the past twenty-five years.”
Haws emphasized the partnership between BYU–Hawaii and the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC), describing the anniversary as an opportunity to celebrate the past while recommitting to the Iosepa’s future.
Construction of the Iosepa and the community
Former BYU–Hawaii President Eric B. Shumway reflected on the community effort behind the Iosepa’s creation. Thousands of people including schoolchildren, teachers, Hawaiian Studies students, Church leaders, and tourists contributed to the project.
“Many projects like this have a tendency to be exclusive, to be territorial,” Shumway said. “This project [of the Iosepa] has been totally inclusive and drawn many people to the inner circle of its community’s love. Every person who has come has added their personal spirit to the canoe.”
Shumway recalled the spiritual significance of the canoe’s construction. In keeping with Hawaiian understandings of nature and ancestral spirits, builders treated each log as something living. For him, the Iosepa became a symbol of reconciliation and belonging, bringing people together beyond their differences.
The canoe ultimately represented how a shared purpose could unite a community while connecting generations through a responsibility to honor and continue their ancestors’ work.
Voyagers of faith: Lessons beyond the ocean
During the “Voyagers of Faith” panel, former voyagers and BYU–Hawaii students shared how sailing the Iosepa shaped their understanding of faith, identity, and responsibility.
Kaipo Manoa recalled praying during the canoe’s launch on one of his voyages and feeling the presence of his ancestors, while Kanale Sadowski said Iosepa gave him a deeper appreciation for those who preserved the tradition and the responsibility to carry it forward.
“The ocean connects us; it doesn’t divide us,” Sadowski explained.
Elijah Faleolo emphasized this with his own experience, sharing, "The islands are connected through the water channels our ancestors used, which has connected pieces of me and my history ... My home in Oahu is connected to my ancestors in Molokai.”
Paliku Kahalepuna described how sailing far from land challenged him to depend on his crewmates, who became like family.
“To this day, I can say it helped my life and the person I am. With the examples we all had, the experiences we had, and the people ... Whenever [my crewmates and I] get back together, it’s like we're back together in the middle of the ocean talking story again.”
Together, the panelists demonstrated that the Iosepa’s lessons extend beyond sailing, shaping the people who carry their experiences and teachings into their lives.
The legacy lives on
Mark Ellis, a BYU–Hawaii alumni and adjunct faculty member for the Hawaiian Studies and Pacific Studies programs, was approached to help sail the Iosepa in 2024 when plans were being discussed for its relaunch during the Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC). Ellis reflected on how the canoe’s story continues to evolve.
“When we look back, we are going to look back and build upon the legacy of the Iosepa,” Ellis said. “The builders, those that came before us, the captains, those that are helping us propel forward.”
For Ellis, the Iosepa represents both a cultural legacy and a commitment to faith. He described its participants as voyagers of faith and disciples of Jesus Christ, connecting the work of preserving Polynesian traditions with a broader responsibility to serve others.
Twenty-five years after its first sailing, Iosepa continues to demonstrate what a community can accomplish through courage, faith, and shared purpose. Its legacy lives not only in the canoe that crosses the ocean, but in the generations who continue to carry its lessons forward.
