Imiloa Wayfinding and Navigation Festival Set For Saturday

The yearly celebration of traditional Polynesian navigation, the Wayfinding and Navigation Festival, will be held Saturday at the Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii.

The fifth annual event to be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. explores oceanic wayfinding, a traditional system of navigating without instrumentation by using concepts of astronomy, oceanography and meteorology.

“Wayfinding is more than getting from one place to another,” said Kalepa Baybayan, Imiloa’s associate director and navigator in residence. “Wayfinding is a legacy of exploring, understanding and stewarding our environmental resources for the next generation.”

The day’s events will include hands-on wayfinding and navigation activities, special guest presentations, a featured documentary, Makahiki games and live music, all free to the public.

Regular admission rates apply for the Exhibit Hall and Planetarium.

This year’s event honors the island of Kahoolawe as a piko or nourishing life source for Hawaii and its people.

According to Imiloa officials, Kanaloa, the ancient name for Kahoolawe, is a traditional center for wayfinding and navigation.

“From this piko emanated a renaissance of culture, identity, and aloha aina, one’s love and deep connection for earth, sea and sky,” they said.

“The Wayfinding and Navigation Festival is a celebration of our Hawaiian heritage, culture and traditions,” said Imiloa Executive Director Ka`iu Kimura. “It is a unifying legacy that we proudly share with other Polynesian cultures in the Pacific.”