‘Imiloa Hosts Annual Wayfinding and Navigation Festival

The 2014 ‘Imiloa Wayfinding And Navigation Festival is scheduled to take place on Saturday, Oct. 11 at the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo.

This year’s event, sponsored by Matson, will run from 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Join in the journey of exploration and oceanic wayfinding, the traditional system of navigating the open ocean without use of modern instruments. 

The theme of this year’s festival is Moananuiākea, Retracing Ancestral Connections. The event will include hands-on activities and education, including exhibits, a planetarium experience, and the opportunity to uncover your ancestral connections at the Linking Lineages Discovery Lab.

There will also be performances by Te Mau Aito o Hiro Tahitian School and the University of Hawai`i at Hilo’s Tupulaga O Samoa Mo a Taeao Club.

Another highlight of this enriching event will be the presence of recently returned crew members from the Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia, who will be on hand recalling their voyage through Tahiti, the Cook Islands, and Samoa as part of the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage.

According to Kālepa Baybayan, an ‘Imiloa navigator-in-residence, “more than getting from one place to another, wayfinding is a legacy of exploring, understanding, and the stewardship of our environment resources for the next generation.”

In using concepts of astronomy, oceanography, meteorology, and ecology, modern day wayfinders are stewards of collective knowledge that is handed down through generations.

Admission to this event is free and open to the public.

‘Imiloa’s mission is to honor Mauna Kea by sharing Hawaiian culture and science to inspire exploration.

People who are in need of auxiliary or communication assistance at this event should contact Roxanne Ching at [email protected] or by calling 808-969-9704 no later than 10 days before the event. 

For more information on the festival, visit ‘Imiloa’s website or call 808-969-9703