Iosepa voyaging crew returns with life-changing testimonies after month-long spiritual voyage
In celebration of Polynesian heritage and ancient wayfaring, Iosepa, a traditional double-hulled canoe, departed from its home at the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) and once again ventured into the open sea on May 24. The completion of this month-long voyage was honored on June 22 during a devotional where crew members reflected on the transformation they experienced throughout the journey. Mark Ellis, captain of the vessel and director of voyaging experiences at PCC, said what sets Iosepa apart from all other canoes is that it carries the gospel of Jesus Christ—a sentiment echoed by the rest of the crew.
Pressing forward in faith
“The name ‘Iosepa’ was chosen not simply to honor a place, but to honor a people—those who, like voyagers, left behind everything familiar to follow the Lord in faith,” shared Jerusha Magalei, an assistant professor in BYU–Hawaii’s Faculty of Education & Social Work. The canoe, she explained, was named after Iosepa, a settlement in Utah established in the 1880s by Latter-day Saints from the Pacific.
Iosepa was birthed in the same spirit—as a vessel of faith, a missionary and a reminder that our ancestors moved forward with purpose, guided by their belief in God.
Iosepa, Magalei shared, has been guided by the Hawaiian proverb, “Kihe ka ihu i ka ale,” since its creation. She said these words capture the spirit of faith and fearlessness. “It describes a wa’a going forward into the unknown, undeterred by the spray of the waves,” she explained. The magnificent Iosepa, she continued, represents this kind of journey—one where they are invited to trust, learn and grow.
“Even though I know the voyage can be really hard and challenging, I still go anyway because I understand the blessings of the journey and what lies ahead,” Magalei expressed. She has served Iosepa as a crew member, and although she has done service mostly on land, she said she understood the faith and courage it takes to voyage out into the sea. “In different roles, I’ve come to know the Lord better. I’ve come to know people better and I’ve especially come to know myself better,” she shared.
Whether in the embrace of ocean waves, safety of the shores, or quiet of preparation, she said being part of Iosepa’s voyages is an incomparable experience that teaches lessons of love, patience, humility, service and sacrifice. “It is a classroom without walls. It truly is,” she said. She described Iosepa as a living embodiment of ancestral wisdom and a space that fosters faith through action.
Iliana Lopez, a junior from California majoring in elementary education and the outreach coordinator for the 2025 voyage, expressed similar feelings towards the vessel’s power as she reflected on the mark they left on the islands they visited throughout the voyage. She said although she often felt like she hadn’t done much beyond simply being present, the gratitude from locals proved otherwise.
“The simple act of voyaging to these places brought light and hope to people. Imagine what more we could do,” she expressed. Quoting Ether 12:4, she shared, “Hope is an anchor to our souls. We need anchors in our lives, so we need the light and hope found in Jesus Christ.”
A calling and a choice
“Here, you could be all of you,” expressed Kahiamaikalani Walker, a BYUH applied mathematics and Hawaiian studies senior born and raised in Laie and Hauula. He described the wa‘a kaulua Iosepa as a place where individuals could serve without having to cast aside other parts of themselves.
Iosepa is a light. He is a very, very powerful missionary tool that brings people from all over the world onto Christ, onto their fathers and onto themselves.
Walker said although he has found himself in different places throughout his life, his connection to voyaging remained strong and undeniable. He was a third grader, he shared, when he touched Iosepa’s hull for the first time. “I remember thinking to myself: I want to be a voyager someday,” he recalled. Despite initially doubting his ability to fulfill that dream, he said his path eventually led him to that very calling—starting with helping the Polynesian Voyaging Society dust off the vessel’s hulls and, ultimately, sailing across the open sea to distant destinations.
“It’s a little uncertain at first. You don’t know for sure what’s going on,” Walker said. But Iosepa’s grandeur, he continued, is best realized at sea, where their connection with their ancestors and each other is stronger than the waves. “This voyage was incredible—being able to go to the different islands and seeing Iosepa’s light spread within the crew members and also within all the people we’ve been able to visit and see,” he shared.
“I chose this life to work hard. I chose this life to show up. I chose this life to be a disciple of Jesus Christ everyday,” expressed Mark Lee, watch captain and photographer for the crew. He shared the thrills and challenges of sailing with Iosepa—surrounded by islands on either side, with swells and wind coming from multiple directions. There were moments, he said, when he felt fear and doubt. But believing in his purpose and in his crewmates gave him peace.
These people, Lee said, radiate boundless kindness and love. “Iosepa’s mission is the gathering of Israel. I’m so grateful for that. I’m so grateful for this crew,” he expressed. He said they testify of the vessel’s power not simply through words, but through action—through showing up and choosing this life.