HAWAIIAN WAYFINDING Long before GPS or compasses, the early Polynesians mastered the open ocean using only the stars, ocean swells, wind patterns, bird behavior, and even cloud shapes to find their way. This incredible practice, known as wayfinding, is how the first voyagers reached Hawai‘i over a thousand years ago in double-hulled canoes built entirely by hand and guided by ancestral knowledge. These voyaging canoes, like the revered Hōkūle‘a, are more than vessels—they are symbols of cultural pride, environmental stewardship, and the strength of indigenous science. Their long-distance journeys, including a worldwide sail completed in 2017, have helped revive interest in traditional navigation and strengthened Hawaiian identity across generations. Today, canoe voyaging is a living tradition, taught and practiced throughout Hawai‘i. Maui is home to several canoe clubs and cultural practitioners who continue to train in both modern sailing and ancient techniques.
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