He and a few of his colleagues at the Polynesian Voyaging Society built a 60 - foot - [20 m] long double - hulled canoe, which they named Hokule ‛ a, a Hawaiian word meaning “Star of Joy. ”
Ta ehitas koos veel mõne kolleegiga Polüneesia meresõiduühingust 20 meetrit pika kahekerelise kanuu, mis sai nimeks „Hokule ‛ a ”, mis havai keeles tähendab ’ rõõmutähte ’.