In this episode of Aloha Authentic, host Kamaka Pili revisits Bishop Museum to rediscover the ancient art of Hawaiian voyaging. The episode begins with a visit to the Bishop Museum’s Planetarium, where Kamaka meets with Romee Gaoiran, the Planetarium Manager. Romee explains what a planetarium is and introduces Kamaka to the variety of exhibits and […]
In this episode of Aloha Authentic, host Kamaka Pili revisits Bishop Museum to rediscover the ancient art of Hawaiian voyaging. The episode begins with a visit to the Bishop Museum’s Planetarium, where Kamaka meets with Romee Gaoiran, the Planetarium Manager. Romee explains what a planetarium is and introduces Kamaka to the variety of exhibits and shows that bring the night sky to life. This modern tool has played a key role in reviving the navigational techniques used by ancient Hawaiian voyagers.
Kamaka then steps inside the planetarium for a conversation with navigator Kaʻiulani Murphy. She shares the significance of the night sky in Polynesian wayfinding and points out some of the most important constellations used for navigation, such as the Southern Cross, or its Hawaiian name, Hānaiakamalama (to be cared for by the moon), and the North Star, also known as Kūmau or Hōkūpaʻa. Viewers gain a deeper understanding of how the stars served as a compass, guiding canoes across vast stretches of ocean with incredible precision.
The journey concludes at Kānehūnāmoku Voyaging Academy in Kāneʻohe, where Kamaka meets Bonnie Kahapeʻa-Tanner. Bonnie explains how the knowledge gained from the planetarium is applied practically on the canoe, out in the open ocean. She also teaches Kamaka about the Hawaiian Star Compass, created by Nainoa Thompson, who was the first Native Hawaiian navigator in 6 centuries to navigate a voyaging canoe to Tahiti without the use of modern instruments. Through these conversations, the episode highlights the blend of modern technology and ancient wisdom that keeps the Hawaiian voyaging tradition alive today.