Polynesian NavigationPolynesian Navigation

Astro 6 “Archeoastronomy and World Cosmology”Astro 6 “Archeoastronomy and World Cosmology”

December 15, 2000December 15, 2000

David ChenDavid Chen

submitted to Professor Bryan Penprasesubmitted to Professor Bryan Penprase

Map of PolynesiaMap of Polynesia

•Surface area greater than the continent of Europe.

•Farthest distances between islands over 2000 miles.

•All of Polynesia settled by 400 A.D.

•All Polynesian cultures share linguistic, cultural, and agricultural roots.

Europe’s First ImpressionEurope’s First Impression

““Many found the Many found the notion of deliberate notion of deliberate voyages so unrealistic voyages so unrealistic that they thought that they thought there must have been there must have been chains of islands or a chains of islands or a lost continent lost continent connecting the farther connecting the farther islands in former islands in former times.” (Sharp 51)times.” (Sharp 51)

Captain James Cook, first European to visit Polynesia

How could Polynesians How could Polynesians have settled such widely have settled such widely distant islands when distant islands when “western Europeans with “western Europeans with their extended coast-line their extended coast-line did not get even to the did not get even to the nearest islands until the nearest islands until the days of large sailing days of large sailing ships and instruments.” ships and instruments.” (Sharp 46)(Sharp 46)

Europe’s First ImpressionEurope’s First Impression

A sextant: a necessary navigation instrument for European sailors

Polynesian CommonaltiesPolynesian CommonaltiesCook found commonalties in all the inhabited islands he visited:

•common linguistic heritage

•common navigation techniques

•common staple crops

•common religious ritual

•common cosmology

Dispersal TimelineDispersal TimelineIsland Groups Date of Settlement

Australia and New Guinea ~50,000 years ago

Fiji, Samoa, Tonga 1,600 – 1,200 B.C.

Cook Islands, Tahiti-nui,Tuamotus, and Hiva

300 B.C.

Easter Island 300 A.D.

Hawaii 400 A.D.

NavigatorsNavigators

Polynesian Master Navigators lacked mechanical instruments to guide their voyages, they were guided by:

•Astronomy

•Winds and waves

•Accumulated knowledge and experience of forebears

WayfindingWayfinding

Wayfinding is the Wayfinding is the art of navigation art of navigation without without instrumentation. instrumentation. It involves an It involves an intimate intimate knowledge of the knowledge of the sky, the ocean, sky, the ocean, and weather.and weather.

WayfindingWayfinding

Chad Baydayan [master navigator] distinguishes wayfinding Chad Baydayan [master navigator] distinguishes wayfinding from navigation - the technical art of finding land without from navigation - the technical art of finding land without the use of instruments or charts. He will tell you that the use of instruments or charts. He will tell you that wayfinding is "wayfinding is "a way of organizing the worlda way of organizing the world." He has ." He has also said that it's "a way of leading," "also said that it's "a way of leading," "of finding a visionof finding a vision," ," ""a set of valuesa set of values," "how to take care of the earth," and, in ," "how to take care of the earth," and, in general, "general, "a model for living my lifea model for living my life.” (PVS).” (PVS)

WayfindingWayfinding “To hold a course, the

navigator aligns the rising or setting sun to marks on the railings of the canoe. There are 8 marks on each side of the canoe, each paired with a single point at the stern of the canoe, giving bearings in two directions, 32 bearings in all to match the 32 directional houses of the Hawaiian star compass.” (PVC)

Polynesian Star CompassPolynesian Star CompassNoted Heliacal Risings:

RigelSpicaSirriusAntaresCanopusAlpha and Beta CentauriAcrux

CassiopeiaBig DipperCapellaDenebVegaCastorArcturusAldebaranAltairBetelgueseProcyon…and solsticial sunrises and sunsets.

Southern CrossSouthern Cross"The Southern Cross is really important to us. It looks

like a kite. These two stars in the Southern Cross always point south (Gacrux on top and Acrux on the bottom). If you are traveling in a canoe and going south, these southern stars are going to appear to be traveling the higher and higher in the sky each night. If you went down to the South Pole, these stars are going to be way overhead. If you are going north to Hawai'i, the Southern Cross travels across the sky in a lower and lower arc each night. When you are at the latitude of Hawai'i, the distance from the top star (Gacrux) to the bottom star (Acrux) is the same distance from that bottom star to the horizon. That only occurs in the latitude of Hawai'i.” (PVC)

TimekeepingTimekeeping

“...the Hawaiians used a calendar based on the moon, knew and corrected its error by reference to the stars, named each month, and each night of the month by the characteristics of the moon, and judged the hour closely by the stars at night, or the sun by day.” (PVC)

Ritual CosmologyRitual Cosmology A priestly astrologer, the kilo hoku would give

the more important of the prospective trips a good clearance, or hold the boat for a better day; and mixed with his rites there were always the realties of keen weather observing. Of course the pig must be baked, the 'awa chewed and mixed, the gods propitiated with offerings and prayers, and then the heavens and sea scanned for portents.

If the rainbow stood arched in the wrong quarter, if the clouds were flying in scattered fragments, the wind and sea from the wrong direction, the sailing was delayed. But if the indications were fair the astrologer completed the prognosis with an inspired dream, and the voyage was well begun. (PVC)

Canoe ConstructionCanoe Construction

Hokule'a - modern replica of ancient canoe

•double hulled

•triangular sails

•hull carved from whole logs

•sails weaved from flax or pandanus matting

Canoe ConstructionCanoe Construction

Petroglyph of Petroglyph of canoe, found on canoe, found on Easter Island.Easter Island.

The double-hull The double-hull design was design was popular popular throughout throughout Polynesia.Polynesia.

ConclusionConclusion

0 na hoku no na kiu o ka lani .

"The stars are the eyes of heaven."

Polynesians were master navigators whose deep understanding of the sky was intricately connected to values of exploration, vision, and harmonious living. Their extraordinary accomplishments stand as a

testament to the power of the human mind and spirit.

For more information...For more information...

Polynesian Voyaging Society- http://leahi.kcc.hawaii.edu/org/pvs/

Sharp, Andrew. Ancient Voyagers in the Pacific. Penguin Books. London: 1957.

Gladwin, Thomas. East Is a Big Bird. Harvard University Press. Cambridge, Massachussetts: 1970.