Kaleomanuiwa Wong | Polynesian Voyaging Society || Radcliffe Institute

TL;DR

The Polynesian Voyaging Society uses traditional Polynesian navigation techniques to navigate the oceans and rediscover ancient ways of life, while also inspiring others to care for the Earth.

Transcript

• Welcome, everybody. I'm glad to see so many people showed up, especially given this inclement weather. So I'm grateful. My name is John Huth, and I'm a ventures faculty member here at the Radcliffe Institute, and I help them organize their programming with a particular emphasis in the sciences. So this is the third in a series of public lectures ... Read More

Key Insights

• 😒 The Polynesian Voyaging Society uses traditional Polynesian navigation techniques to navigate the oceans and rediscover ancient ways of life.
• 🥰 The society focuses on aloha aina, which means loving and caring for the land and its resources.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Polynesian navigators learn the art of wave piloting?

Polynesian navigators learned the art of wave piloting through traditional teachings passed down through generations and hands-on experience at sea. They observed the movement of stars, sun, and swells to navigate the vast oceans.

Q: How do navigators know their direction and location at sea without modern instruments?

Polynesian navigators rely on the position of stars, the movement of swells, and other natural signs to determine their direction and location at sea. They have learned to read the ocean and the stars and to interpret the clues provided by nature.

Q: How do traditional Polynesian navigational techniques contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage?

By reviving traditional Polynesian navigation techniques, the Polynesian Voyaging Society is preserving and promoting cultural heritage. They are passing down ancient knowledge to future generations and promoting a deep connection to the land, the sea, and their ancestors.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The Polynesian Voyaging Society aims to revive traditional Polynesian navigation techniques and cultural practices.

• The society uses the Hokulea canoe to navigate the oceans using stars, sun, swells, and other natural signs.

• Their worldwide voyage aims to inspire the love and care for the Earth among people from different cultures and backgrounds.