Field record · Historical transmission
Hōkūleʻa, Star of Gladness
The canoe, the star, and the method of reading swell, bird, and sky were placed beside one another because the canoe is named for the star and was steered by a transmitted wayfinding practice.
This correspondence holds · Sources checked · 8 March 1975
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Transcript
Hokulea means Star of Gladness, the Hawaiian name for Arcturus. Launched in nineteen seventy-five, she was navigated to Tahiti without instruments by Mau Piailug of Satawal. What holds: a documented revival of wayfinding. What is not claimed: that the stars arranged themselves for this page.
Observed
- The Polynesian Voyaging Society launched the canoe Hōkūleʻa on 8 March 1975 in Honolulu.
- Hōkūleʻa is a Hawaiian name for Arcturus, a zenith star for Hawaiʻi.
- In 1976 Mau Piailug of Satawal navigated the canoe from Hawaiʻi to Tahiti without modern instruments.
- Nainoa Thompson later became the first Hawaiian in centuries to complete such a crossing as navigator.
Connection
The canoe, the star, and the method of reading swell, bird, and sky were placed beside one another because the canoe is named for the star and was steered by a transmitted wayfinding practice.
- Historical transmission
- Astronomical geometry
- Linguistic descent
Interpretation
A revival can restore a method without restoring a metaphysics. The interesting pairing is skill with night, not a claim that Arcturus arranged the voyage for this page.
Mechanism
Known transmission. Micronesian navigation was taught across a documented teacher-student line. The name's reference to Arcturus is linguistic and astronomical, not causal magic.
Open questions
What, exactly, is transmitted when a star compass moves from one ocean culture to another?
Where does embodied knowing end and later storytelling begin?
Read beside this
- Know WithStar of Gladness. How a body learns a star compass.
- Wonder AtlasMau Piailug and Hōkūleʻa, told for children. A distinct office. Not a scientific plate.
- StarsThe star that held the course
Sources
- Polynesian Voyaging Society · Voyage history, canoe name, and mission as published by the society.
Related records
Canonical plate. · Sources checked.