Overview
For thousands of years, Pacific people have guided their canoes using a deep knowledge of their environment. Here are some examples.
Landmarks
When setting out on a voyage to a known destination, a navigator lines up the canoe with two or more landmarks on the island they’re leaving.
As the canoe moves further from the island, the navigator notes how far it drifts from the initial alignment. This reveals which direction the current is running in, and how strong it is. The navigator then sets the course, allowing for that drift.
Star paths
A star path is a series of stars that either rise or set at the same point on the horizon. The navigator of a canoe uses the point at which they meet the horizon as a bearing to stay on target. Which star path a navigator follows to any given destination depends on the time of year.
Ocean swells
Navigators recognise different ocean swell patterns – even though they can’t see them. They feel the motion of the swells underneath them. Swells in the open ocean help navigators to keep on course. Certain distortions in the swells are the first sign that land is near.
Island blocks
During the first part of a journey, navigators aim for the largest target possible. Instead of sailing towards one island in a group, they aim for the whole group. Once they reach the group, finding the way to a specific island is easier.
Clouds
You can see the clouds over an island, even when the island itself is too far away to be visible. Clouds move slowly when they travel over land, then pick up speed after they’ve passed it. Navigators look for this type of cloud movement as they scan the horizon.
The colour of a cloud’s underside can also offer clues. A cloud passing over a sunlit lagoon may glow brightly. A cloud with a heavily forested island underneath may have a greenish tinge.
Fishing birds
Some land-based birds fly out to sea to fish in the morning, and return at dusk. Seeing them at these times tells navigators where land is.
Migratory birds
Some oral histories tell of Polynesians following the paths of migratory birds to find out where they went. These would have been experimental voyages.