ClassX Video Lessons How did Polynesian wayfinders navigate the Pacific Ocean? – Alan Tamayose and Shantell De Silva
Imagine you’re in a canoe, setting sail from Hawaii, aiming for a tiny island thousands of kilometers away in the vast Pacific Ocean. This ocean is enormous, covering more than 160 million square kilometers, which is larger than all the land on Earth combined! For thousands of years, Polynesian navigators made these incredible journeys without any modern technology. Instead, they used the Sun, Moon, stars, planets, ocean currents, and clouds to guide them, seeing the ocean as a network of paths rather than a barrier.
These amazing voyages started around 1500 B.C. when the first Polynesians set sail from Southeast Asia. They eventually settled across a huge area of islands, covering 40 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean. Some historians think they moved to avoid overcrowding, while others believe they were escaping conflicts. By around 1300 A.D., these journeys became less frequent as Polynesian societies settled down in specific places.
Successful voyages depended on several things: strong canoes, skilled navigators, and good weather. The canoes, called wa’a kaulua, were double-hulled and powered by sails, steered with a large oar. Building these canoes was a community effort, involving navigators, builders, priests, singers, and dancers.
Polynesian navigators were experts at observing nature. They understood the ocean swells created by trade winds, which usually flowed northeast or southeast. During the day, they could tell direction by the way their canoes rocked with these swells. The Sun’s position at sunrise and sunset helped them find east and west, and the low light made it easier to see the swells.
At night, navigators used a star compass, a mental map of the sky. They memorized where stars and constellations rose and set at different times of the year. This divided the sky into four quadrants, further split into 32 sections, with the canoe in the center. For example, when they saw the star Pira‘atea rising, they knew it was northeast.
They also used the North Star, called Hokupa’a, which always points north. However, south of the Equator, they couldn’t see it, so they used the Southern Cross constellation to find south. Clouds were another helpful tool. They could indicate landmasses, as lagoons reflected on the clouds’ undersides, and high clouds often meant mountainous islands.
As they got closer to their destination, navigators looked for clues like bird flight patterns, floating debris, and types of fish to know they were near land. For instance, the Manu-O-Ku bird had a flight range of 190 kilometers and could be followed back to shore.
We know about these techniques from petroglyphs, European explorers’ writings, and Polynesian oral traditions. Plus, people have tested these methods. In 2017, a canoe named Hokulea completed a worldwide journey using only traditional navigation techniques. This shows how ancient Polynesians, through their deep understanding and connection with nature, could navigate the vast and lively Pacific Ocean.
Imagine you’re a Polynesian navigator. Create your own star compass by drawing a circle and dividing it into 32 sections. Research and label the positions of key stars and constellations that Polynesian navigators used. This will help you understand how they used the night sky to find their way across the ocean.
Work in groups to build a small model of a Polynesian double-hulled canoe using materials like cardboard, sticks, and fabric. Discuss the design features that made these canoes suitable for long ocean voyages. This activity will give you insight into the engineering skills of Polynesian societies.
Use a large container filled with water to simulate ocean swells. Create waves using your hands or a fan, and observe how they move. Discuss how Polynesian navigators might have used the motion of their canoes in relation to these swells to determine direction during their voyages.
Using a map of the Pacific Ocean, plot the routes taken by Polynesian navigators from Southeast Asia to various islands. Research the distances and challenges they faced. This will help you appreciate the vastness of their journeys and their navigational skills.
Listen to or read Polynesian myths and oral traditions related to navigation. Discuss how these stories might have helped preserve navigational knowledge across generations. This activity will help you understand the cultural significance of navigation in Polynesian societies.
Imagine setting sail from Hawaii in a canoe. Your target is a small island thousands of kilometers away in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. That’s a body of water that covers more than 160 million square kilometers, greater than all the landmasses on Earth combined. For thousands of years, Polynesian navigators managed voyages like this without the help of modern navigational aids. Ancient Polynesians used the Sun, Moon, stars, planets, ocean currents, and clouds as guides that allowed them to see the ocean as a series of pathways rather than an obstacle.
Their voyages began around 1500 B.C. when the people who would settle Polynesia first set sail from Southeast Asia. Early Polynesians eventually settled a vast area of islands spread over 40 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean. Some historians believe the voyagers moved from place to place to avoid overpopulation, while others suggest they were driven by conflict. Voyages became less frequent by around 1300 A.D. as Polynesian societies became more rooted in specific locations.
During the voyaging period, successful journeys depended on several factors: well-built canoes, the skill of navigators, and favorable weather conditions. Voyages relied on sturdy wa’a kaulua, or double-hulled canoes, which were powered by sails and steered with a single large oar. Canoe building involved the whole community, bringing together navigators, canoe builders, priests, chanters, and hula dancers.
Navigators were keen observers of the natural world. They were familiar with trade wind-generated ocean swells, which typically flow northeast or southeast. By day, navigators could identify direction by the rocking motion of their canoes caused by these swells. Sunrise and sunset were even more useful, as the Sun’s position indicated east and west and created low light on the ocean that made it possible to see swells directly.
At night, navigators used a star compass, which was a sort of mental map. They memorized the rising and setting points of stars and constellations at different times of the year. They used those to divide the sky into four quadrants, subdivided into 32 houses, with the canoe in the middle. For example, when they saw the star Pira‘atea rising from the ocean, they knew that to be northeast.
They had other techniques as well. The Earth’s axis points towards Hokupa’a, or the North Star, which is the one fixed point in the sky as the Earth rotates and always indicates north. However, it’s not visible south of the Equator, so navigators there could use a constellation called Newe, or the Southern Cross, along with mental techniques to estimate where south is.
The sky also contains navigational aids much closer to Earth: the clouds. Besides being useful weather cues, under the right conditions, they can indicate landmasses. For instance, the lagoons of Pacific atolls can be seen reflected on the underside of clouds if you know what to look for. High masses of clouds can indicate mountainous islands.
Once navigators neared their destination, other clues, such as the flight patterns of birds, floating debris or vegetation, and types of fish in the area, helped determine the proximity of land. For example, the Manu-O-Ku had a known flight range of 190 kilometers and could be followed back to shore.
So how do we know all of this? Partially through evidence in petroglyphs, written observations of European explorers, and Polynesian oral traditions. But also by trying them out for ourselves. In 2017, a voyaging canoe called Hokulea completed a worldwide voyage using only these techniques. If that seems remarkable, remember the ancient Polynesians, who through close study and kinship with nature, were able to forge these paths across an unfathomably vast, vibrant living ocean.
Polynesian – Relating to the people or culture of the islands in the central and southern Pacific Ocean, including Hawaii, Samoa, and New Zealand. – The Polynesian people are known for their incredible skills in ocean navigation and exploration.
Navigation – The process or activity of accurately determining one’s position and planning and following a route, especially at sea. – Ancient sailors used the stars for navigation to find their way across the vast ocean.
Ocean – A vast body of salt water that covers almost three-quarters of the Earth’s surface. – The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest ocean in the world.
Canoes – Light, narrow boats with pointed ends and no keel, propelled with a paddle or paddles. – Polynesians traveled between islands using large, sturdy canoes.
Stars – Massive, luminous celestial bodies made of plasma, which are visible in the night sky and used for navigation. – Navigators relied on the stars to guide their canoes across the ocean.
Currents – Continuous, directed movements of seawater generated by various factors such as wind, temperature, and salinity differences. – Understanding ocean currents was crucial for successful long-distance voyages.
Islands – Land masses, smaller than continents, that are completely surrounded by water. – The Hawaiian Islands were formed by volcanic activity in the Pacific Ocean.
Voyages – Long journeys involving travel by sea or in space. – The Polynesians embarked on long voyages to discover new islands across the Pacific.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – The history of Polynesian exploration is filled with remarkable tales of bravery and skill.
Techniques – Methods or skills needed to bring about a certain result, especially in a scientific or artistic context. – Ancient navigators used advanced techniques to read the stars and ocean currents.
