Traditional Voyaging knowledge at FestPAC Hawaii
Nainoa Thompson speaking at the Wa'a Ceremony for FestPac 2024.
An additional highlight from the Wa’a Ceremony for me was listening to this heartfelt interview with Master Navigator, Nainoa Thompson.
Nainoa Thompson is a living legend whose profound connection to the ocean and dedication to ancestral navigation techniques demonstrate the rich cultural heritage of the Hawaiian Islands. Inspired by his kūpuna (elders) and teachers, he has dedicated his life to exploring the deep meaning of voyaging. As a master navigator and a skilled practitioner of traditional Polynesian wayfinding, he not only revives ancient practices but also serves to educate and inspire a new generation about the importance of sustainability and respect for our oceans.
Nanaia recalled a poignant moment from 1976 with his mentor Kalaku Kea. He was brought to the same spot in Kualoa Regional Park (where the Wa’a Ceremony was taking place) to help lash a canoe back in a time, when there were no people or no sailing canoe around.
“A big crane came in, and then a flatbed with these two big giant brown hulls. Another truck came in with miles of spools and cotton rope to lash a canoe.”
He shared how he was experienced with lashing paddling canoes that were 400 pounds in size. Yet unbeknown to him, he was set to help lash a mammoth 24000 pound canoe.
“Our job was to lash it and we didn’t know how. And we made so many mistakes, but what I’m trying to get at, was that it was 50 years ago! ”
Crew members and friends of the Hōkūle’a in February 1976, before its first voyage to Tahiti:from left, Tommy Holmes, Abraham "Snake" Ah Hee, Nainoa Thompson, Keani Reiner, Sam Kalalau, Mel Kinney, Penny Rawlins, David Lewis. On central platform: Capt. Kawika Kapahulehua, John Kruse, Kimo Hugho, Billy Richards, Maka'ala Yates, Shorty Bertelmann, Ben Finney, and Vic Fageroos. Honolulu Advertiser Archives
Nainoa’s body language and gentle gaze out to the Hōkūle’a waka (boat) and then back to his whenua (land) was a heartfelt moment.
From his facial expressions, one could almost think that he was reliving these core memories and sense that perhaps they had almost merged with the reality of today’s ceremony.
With a downward glance, and a respectful pause between sentences, he exclaimed,
“And, look at today. Our Pacific people have come a long way.
“Canoes from the great navigators of Micronesia, the canoes from Aotearoa, the two big voyaging canoes that sailed from Tahiti, Fa’afaite, and Marumaru Atua from the Cook Islands.”
Nainoa thoughtfully pauses again and imparts more from this personal reflection.
“It's hard to express this because what if they didn’t launch Hōkūle’a? What if Mau didn’t come? He was here at the launching, and we made so many mistakes.”
This was March 8th, we launched the canoe, March 9th we sailed it.
We broke sweeps. We run aground in sandbars, we had to be towed back. We ran aground on this beach over here.
Mau happened to be here.
Nainoa Thompson and Mau Piailug, ca. 1998
Credit: Monte Costa
“I didn’t know who he was. He watched and basically said, “The canoe is good but the crew is not too good”.
“Which was telling us how much we don’t know.”
“But look at today. Tahiti to the Cook Islands are going to sail the equivalent of 12 000 miles, that's almost halfway around the planet and even more than that at the equator. Just to be here.”
”It’s just the power of what community can do when they’re united.”
Towards the end of the interview Lucy asks Nainoa for his thoughts on Mau’s continuing legacy and he quickly imparts,
”It’s really quite simple. If Mau didn’t come, we wouldn’t have gone. If we didn’t go, then today wouldn’t happen."
”Mau’s impact is why this day even exists. Its symbolic and real about the awakening and rising up of Pacific people because of the canoe and Mau.”
”We cannot celebrate and thank him and his family enough.”
