Traditional Native Hawaiian carvers will launch a canoe into the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., on Monday.

The Friends of Hokule�a and Hawai�iloa will be joined by the National Museum of the American Indian in launching the 18-foot canoe. The boat was started 15 years ago by Wright Bowman Jr., a Native Hawaiian master carver, and was finished at the museum.

The Friends will perform a blessing ceremony for the canoe before paddling it into the river. The canoe isi known as Au Hou or "New Era."

The event takes place at 10am at the Thompson�s Marina at 2900 Virginia Avenue NW, the corner of Virginia Avenue and Rock Creek Parkway. The public is invited.

Relevant Links:
National Museum of the American Indian - http://www.nmai.si.edu

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