“Living this dream,” as Hokulea connected students with Space Shuttle in 1992

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – In 50 years, Hōkūleʻa has sailed 275,000 miles around the world and the crew also made connections in space.

It was October 28,1992, as part of No Na Mamo, For the Children: 1992 The Voyage for Education. Brickwood Galuteria of KCCN radio who had sailed with Hōkūleʻa co-hosted the live three-way talk story at UH Manoa. They called the location UH Peace Satellite.

“It’s an exciting day in Hawaii and we’ll be talking stories shortly with a lot of very, very important people,” said Brickwood Galuteria on the Hawaii State Department of Education video.

He worked for KCCN radio who had sailed with Hōkūleʻa, co-hosted the live three-way talk story from UH Mānoa.

Hawai’i students spoke with astronauts from the Space Shuttle Columbia as it flew over the islands with astronaut Lacy Veach who was from Hawaii. They also they talked to the crew of Hōkūleʻa in the middle of the Pacific Ocean off Rarotonga in the Cook Islands.

“Aloha to you, aloha kākou,” said Veach.

“Hōkūleʻa how is your sail from Rarotonga, we understand you left on Monday,” he added.

The Space Shuttle Columbia beamed its live satellite image to UH. while Mission Control, in Houston, Texas called Hawaii over the telephone. This as Hōkūleʻa crew members transmitted their voices. Galuteria says they were able to speak with Polynesian Voyaging Society’s Nainoa Thompson on board the canoe.

“What do think are the similarities and differences between the shuttle and Hokulea’s missions. Over,” asked Stephanie Fodor of Aikahi Elementary.

Hōkūleʻa original 1976 crew member Billy Richards was also in studio.

“As far as supplies, long voyages will require more water and more food, of course, and things,” he said.

“To be the conduit between the two was incredible and the children were living this dream of talking to, you know, an astronaut and a navigator,” Galuteria told Hawaii News Now as he recalled that day in 1992.

Today Galuteria says he hopes to find those kids who are now adults and ask them what they remember of that groundbreaking talk story.

The public is invited to Hōkūleʻa 50th Birthday Commemoration on Saturday at Kualoa Regional Park. You can also watch on K5 starting with Sunrise at 7 a.m. Then live coverage from 9 to 11 a.m.

Later, our news special at 7 p.m., “A Canoe is Born: Hōkūleʻa” shows the 1975 film documenting her launch.

Copyright 2025 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.