27-03-2025
Celebrating 50 Years of Hōkūleʻa
On this special episode of Aloha Authentic, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hōkūleʻa, the legendary voyaging canoe that sparked a cultural renaissance for Native Hawaiians and the Pacific. To honor this milestone, host Kamaka Pili sits down with Nainoa Thompson, who helped bring traditional wayfinding back to life.
For Nainoa, the journey to becoming a master navigator began with a deep question: How did our ancestors cross the vast Pacific without modern instruments? That curiosity led him to study the ocean, the stars, and the ways of the great navigators who came before him. But it wasn't just books or research that guided him—it was his teachers.
In our conversation, Nainoa shares the powerful lessons he learned from his mentors, including the late Mau Piailug, the master navigator from Satawal, and Herb Kawainui Kāne, the visionary artist and historian who helped design Hōkūleʻa. Mau, in particular, was the key to unlocking the knowledge that had nearly been lost. He taught Nainoa not just the techniques of wayfinding, but the responsibility that comes with it—to care for the canoe, the crew, and the ocean itself.
As we reflect on five decades of Hōkūleʻa's voyages, Nainoa also teaches us some basics of traditional navigation. He explains how wayfinders read the stars, ocean swells, and winds to find their way across thousands of miles. No GPS. No compasses. Just a deep connection to nature and ancestral wisdom.
Hōkūleʻa's legacy is more than just a canoe—it's a symbol of resilience, cultural pride, and the power of indigenous knowledge. Join us as we honor this historic milestone and learn from one of the world's greatest navigators.
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