Ostensibly, James Cook's third and final voyage is to return Omai, a young man from Raiatea to his homeland; this is what the general public believes, as he has become a favorite curiosity in London.

However, the Admiralty uses this as a cover for their plan to send Cook on a voyage to discover the Northwest Passage.

HMS Resolution, to be commanded by Cook, and HMS Discovery, commanded by Charles Clerke, are prepared for the voyage that starts from Plymouth in 1776.

The ships travels to Cape Town by way of Tenerife then on to New Zealand.Omai is returned to his homeland and the ships sailed onwards, discovering the Hawaiian Archipelago, before reaching the Pacific coast of North America.

The two chart the west coast of the continent and pass through the Bering Strait when they are stopped by ice from sailing either east or west.

The vessels return to the Pacific and call briefly at the Aleutians before retiring towards Hawaii for the winter.

When they approach Hawaii, they are met with an unexpectedly warm welcome which becomes tumultuous as the finally lands at Kealakekua Bay, on 'Hawaii Island' during the Makahiki, a Hawaiian harvest festival of worship for the Polynesian god Lono.After a time during which Cook and his crew are feted, the atmosphere changes and Cook moves away from the island to continue his quest of discovery.

He soon suffers damage to his ship and has to turn back.

On his return, conflict arises that results in Cook's death.

Cook's remains are taken away by the Hawaiians but some are returned to be buried at sea by his crew.

The command of the expedition is assumed by Charles Clerke, who tries in vain to find the passage before his own death.

Under the command of John Gore, the crews return to a subdued London in October 1780.