Remembering a Great Steersman
7 Nov
The steersman of the Hokule’a, the double-hulled canoe that sailed from Hawaii to Tahiti in 1976, is being remembered for his strength and kindness.
Sam Kalalau Jr., a native Hawaiian fisherman who died in October at age 85, helped prove the idea that Polynesians could navigate the Pacific using traditional techniques when he steered Hokule’a.
“Of all the crew members, he was the one with the most experience,” Polynesian Voyaging Society president Nainoa Thompson said of Kalalau in THIS Honolulu Star-Bulletin story. “He was one of the pioneers. Without them, there would have been no voyaging.”
If you’re fascinated by the idea of voyaging between the scattered islands of the Pacific like we are, we recommend THIS article about the Hokule’a and THIS book on the ancient art of Pacific navigation.
