Preparations for Hokulea's milestone anniversary as the legendary voyaging canoe turns 50 on Saturday.

That vessel — a double-hulled sailing canoe called the Hokulea, after the Hawaiian name for the star Arcturus — would even influence the Disney blockbuster “Moana” decades later.

A canoe launched half a century ago helped turn Hawaiian culture from a source of shame to one of pride, reviving the skill of traveling the seas by decoding the stars, waves and weather.

Early crew members of the voyaging canoe Hokulea have gathered in Hawaii to celebrate the vessel's 50th birthday KANEOHE, Hawaii -- Hawaii's American colonizers once banned the Hawaiian language ...

This April 1975 photo shows crew members training on the Hokulea canoe in waters off the windward coast of Oahu, Hawaii. (James Kimo Hugho via AP) Show more Show less This April 1975 photo shows ...