When it comes to heroes, David Komine picked a great one: Polynesian Voyaging Society president and Coastal Living Ocean Hero Nainoa Thompson. Here’s his story.
Hundreds of years ago, double-hulled canoes traversed the seas of modern-day Polynesia, crewed by voyagers able to navigate through open ocean without instruments using the stars, the sun, ocean currents, and other natural elements. These travelers, as part of the Polynesian migration, helped colonize the Pacific—including the islands of Hawai‘i.
These canoes disappeared more than 600 years ago. And then, in 1976, a deep sea voyaging canoe built in the tradition of these ancient vessels sailed from Hawai‘i to Tahiti. The canoe was named Hōkūle‘a, “Star of Gladness,” and it inspired a whole new generation of modern wayfinders and voyagers. Read more.
