Busby is no stranger to waka hourua, with over 20 years of experience paddling and captaining.
She is not only a dedicated advocate for traditional waka voyaging, but a history-maker herself – the first Māori wahine to captain a waka hourua and to build one for Aotearoa (New Zealand).
Jolene Busby with Lahaina Lorris on board the double-hulled sailing waka Hinemoana II shortly after setting off for Tonga on Tuesday.
The Hinemoana II, a waka hourua (double-hulled canoe) is on a historic voyage to Tonga with its first female Māori captain, Jolene Busby, the great-granddaughter of Far North waka legend Sir Hek Busby.
She inspires the next generation by teaching them traditional Māori knowledge related to waka voyaging, including kaupapa waka (waka philosophy), maramataka (Māori astronomy), and te reo (Māori language), alongside other educational initiatives.

Far North’s Jolene Busby first wahine Māori captain of Hinemoana II waka hourua as it heads to Tonga