The Polynesian Voyaging Society launched their Voyage of Rediscovery, sailing to Aotearoa (New Zealand) and back. The successful journey proved that voyaging canoes could sail eastward across prevailing tradewinds and currents. In addition to landing at Aotearoa, Hokule'a also sailed to Tahiti, the Cook Islands, Tonga, Samoa and the Tuamotu Archipelago. Thousands thronged the beaches at Kualoa on O'ahu when Hokule'a returned to Hawai'i in 1987.