HONOLULU (KHON2) — Polynesians are renowned for their extraordinary navigational skills as they used the stars to traverse the vast Pacific Ocean long before modern instruments were invented.
This ancient practice, known as wayfinding, relied on a deep understanding of the night sky.
Polynesian navigators memorized star maps, identifying specific stars and constellations to determine direction and latitude. Key stars and their rising and setting positions formed a celestial grid that guided these voyagers on untold and epic adventures.
Native Hawaiian navigators, for instance, used star lines such as Kaiwikuamoʻo (the backbone) for orientation.
They combined star knowledge with observations of ocean swells, wind patterns and bird flight paths. The Hōkūleʻa is a modern, working replica of traditional voyaging canoes and has successfully demonstrated these ancient techniques by sailing thousands of miles without modern instruments.
Reviving this tradition, navigators like Nainoa Thompson have reinvigorated interest in celestial navigation and has honored the legacy of their ancestors and preserved a vital aspect of Polynesian culture.
Join the Bishop Museum Planetarium educators and Hōkūleʻa navigator and Honolulu Community College Hoʻokele Instructor Kaʻiulani Murphy for an enlightening session on Navigating by the Stars.
Each discussion will include an introduction to the night sky and the fundamentals of celestial navigation, focusing on the Hawaiian star line most prominent that month.
Participants will gain insights into the traditional Hawaiian methods of navigating the vast ocean using the stars as their guide.
This educational experience promises to be both informative and inspiring, offering a unique glimpse into the rich heritage of Hawaiian navigation.
Whether you are an avid stargazer or simply curious about the night sky, this event is sure to captivate and educate.
The event for this year is in-person only with no online options or recordings available. Online reservations are required; and seating is limited to first come, first served with no late arrival seating options. So, be prompt!
Hence, it is advised that you arrive well before 7 p.m. which is when the doors will be closed.
Program details that you’ll want to know prior to arriving:
No late seating. Doors close at 7 p.m. when the program begins. Please plan to arrive no later than 6:45 p.m.
Check-in and entry will be near Bishop Museum’s Shop Pacifica (front entrance and gift shop). The check-in table will be located at the top of the main staircase/ramp and to the right.
Check-in and viewing of the planetarium lobby will begin at 6:30 p.m. Doors open for planetarium seating at 6:45 p.m. The presentation will begin at 7 p.m. and last approximately an hour.
No food or drink allowed in the planetarium.
The planetarium is fairly cool, you may want to bring a light sweater.
Evening parking is $3, please be sure to pay at the parking kiosk or have your member parking sticker on your car.
Tickets are fully refundable until 6 p.m. the night of the show. Refunds can be issued over the phone at (808) 847-3511 or via email at visitorexperience@bishopmuseum.org. After 6 p.m., less than 1 hour before the scheduled start of the show, ticket sales are non-refundable. Refunds not available for no-shows or late arrivals.
You can click here for more information on seating and ticket information.
General admission is $10 per adult, $7 per youth ages 4-17, 3 years and under are free and 50% off general admission member tickets.