Moananuiākea Voyage for the Pacific

NĀLAMAKŪ AHSING AND LINDA FURUTO, POLYNESIAN VOYAGING SOCIETY

Living on an island chain teaches us that our natural world is a gift with limits and that we must carefully steward this gift if we are to survive together. Our Pacific voyaging traditions teach us to venture beyond the horizon and into zero gravity to create global relationships as we work with, learn with, and learn from each other.

Our project goals were to bring objects onboard representing the past, present, and future of our mission: “Founded on a legacy of Pacific Ocean exploration, the Polynesian Voyaging Society seeks to perpetuate the art and science of traditional Polynesian voyaging and the spirit of exploration through experiential educational programs that inspire students and their communities to respect and care for themselves, each other, and their natural and cultural environments.” These objects will help us tell the story of the upcoming 2023-2026 Moananuiākea Voyage for the Pacific.

1. 'Aha/Sennit from the village in Satawal where our first teacher Master Navigator Pius Mau Piailug is from. Papa Mau taught us the importance of knowing who we are and where we come from. He taught us that once we know where we've come from, we can never be lost...no matter where we go.

2. Wai/Water from Ka Piko O Wākea, the navel of Wākea Sky Father also known as the equator. This is a sacred place that connects Oceania and our Pacific brothers and sisters. We sail as one Pacific family connecting the planet and beyond.

3. Pōhaku/Stone from Makapu'u, O'ahu and carried by Nālamakū on the sail from Hawai'i to Tahiti last week. The pōhaku keeps us firmly planted in our values such as love, kindness, compassion, strength, resiliency, and aloha.

4. Hae Hawai‘i/flag representing our homeland, as an offering and invitation to collectively engage in "Preparing humanity to become a spacefaring species."

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Moananuiākea – A Voyage for the Pacific

WA‘A HONUA

See yourself in space—Aurelia Institute