Athousand years before Europeans knew the Pacific existed, Polynesian seafarers had explored and settled this vast ocean. Where did they come from and how did they populate one-third of the Earth’s surface?
Discover how during a screening of “The Navigators — Pathfinders of the Pacific,” from 7-9 p.m. today at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus.
Thor Heyerdahl thought Polynesians floated into the Pacific from South America on crude rafts, pushed by prevailing winds and currents. But the real story is far more interesting — they sailed against these winds and currents from islands in Southeast Asia in sophisticated sailing craft, and they navigated vast distances without compasses, charts or instruments of any kind, using instead a world of natural signs to guide them.
Anthropologist and filmmaker Sam Low’s film, “The Navigators — Pathfinders of the Pacific,” tells this story. To shoot the film, he traveled throughout the Pacific. In Huahine, in the Society Islands, he filmed the excavation of the remains of an ancient sea-going canoe.
In Fiji, he joined archaeologist Roger Green as he discovered pottery that traced the voyaging route of the first Polynesians from islands off the coast of New Guinea, “but the most interesting place I filmed,” Low said, “was on the tiny island of Satawal, in Micronesia.”
Here, the last traditional navigators still practice an ancient art, one similar to those used by Polynesians — navigating their canoes without charts or instruments. A star of Low’s film is Satawalese navigator Mau Piailug. Low shows Piailug teaching students to read the weather in sky and sea signs, to navigate by the stars, to build a canoe and to sail it.
Another star of “The Navigators” is a sailing vessel — Hokule‘a, a replica of the kind of craft that ancient Polynesians once used. In 1975, Hokule‘a first proved her seaworthiness by voyaging from Hawaii to Tahiti with Piailug as navigator. Since then, Hokule‘a has sailed 140,000 miles throughout the Pacific, following the ancient voyaging routes of ancestral Polynesians.
Anyone wishing to learn what it was like to discover distant islands by using the signs of direction in wind, wave and stars will enjoy Low’s film. It is truly a saga of one of the world’s great seafaring people and a story that most of us have not heard. Low also will be in attendance to answer questions and sign his new book, “Hawaiki Rising — Hokule‘a, Nainoa Thompson and the Hawaiian Renaissance.”
In addition, DVD copies of “The Navigators” will be sold after the screening and Lanikai Brewing Co. will offer samples for purchase of its tribute Kahiki Ale, honoring the past, present and future of Polynesian voyaging. This limited edition beer from its Mauka to Makai collection is brewed using six well-known Polynesian heritage plants: ko (sugar cane), ki (ti), kalo (taro), nui (coconut), olena (turmeric) and ulu (breadfruit). It was specially brewed to celebrate Hokule‘a’s homecoming.
The evening is part of a monthly Thursday night series at the Volcano Art Center, focusing on art, Hawaiian culture and the environment. The series is intended to inspire, enhance appreciation of art and life experience, while fostering community connections. The presentation is free; however, a $5 donation is appreciated.
The Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus is located at 19-4074 Old Volcano Road in Volcano Village. For more information, call 967-8222 or visit www.volcanoartcenter.org.
