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Ask the Big Kahuna
Response: Aloha, Marion and Paula, Mahalo for sending your question to the Big Kahuna. I'm happy to tell you that your captain didn't mislead you. Polynesian navigators had no drawn maps, books or references, and their ability to locate small islands in the vast Pacific Ocean astounded western sea captains, starting with Captain James Cook when he brought aboard a Tahitian navigator named Tupaia in 1769. Polynesian navigators used the paths of stars and their rising and setting points to steer bearings and identified many islands with individual stars that passed directly over them. Added to this "star compass" were incredible stores of knowledge about ocean swell patterns, wind, waves, currents, cloud motion and formation, flotsam, and sea birds - all learned under the tutelage of a master navigator. It took an enormous memory and years of study and experience. No wonder the Europeans were impressed. Next time you're in Hawaii, and we do expect you back, stop at the Bishop Museum's Hawaii Maritime Center on Oahu - Pier 7, Honolulu Harbor - to see their exhibit on ancient navigation and to learn about the recovery of ancient navigational skills aboard the replica voyaging canoe Hokulea.   Explore more answers from the Big Kahuna...Do you have a question for the Big Kahuna? Click here to send him your question. Due to the great number of questions, the Big Kahuna will not be able to answer your questions personally. Questions of general interest will be answered in future issues of the free TNT NewsHawaii Travel newsletter, and then posted here.  Or plan your dream vacation through our Hawaii Travel Directory: Big Island | Kauai | Maui | Oahu
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