Hundreds Attend Annual Wayfinding Festival

Hundreds of people came out to ʻImiloa’s 10th Annual Wayfinding Festival held on Sunday, Oct. 29, at the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai’i.

This year’s theme was “Bringing Home Lessons” of the Worldwide Voyage and featured a panel discussion with crewmembers from the recently completed Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage, along with wa‘a (canoe) activities themed around Hawai‘i’s iconic double-hulled sailing canoe, Hōkūleʻa.

Tools used in Wayfinding made by Kona resident Gary Eoff.

“‘Imiloa’s Wayfinding Festival is our way of honoring our deep sea voyaging ancestors who sailed across the open ocean using the light of the stars to guide them to new lands,” said ‘Imiloa’s Executive Director Ka‘iu Kimura, “And at the same time it is a chance to celebrate our modern day navigators who are transmitting celestial navigation skills into the next generation.”

Attendees learned about the historic 3-year journey of Hōkūleʻa, which traveled 42,000 nautical miles, visiting 150 ports in more than 20 countries, while training a new generation of navigators, educators, scientists and community stewards.

Voyaging Canoe “Kiakahi” out of Keaukaha, Hawaiʻi Island.

This year, the festival also reprised the popular Waʻa Iron Chef Contest. In addition to keiki activities, special wayfinding planetarium programming were held in the theaters and planetarium. The public also had full free access to ʻImiloa’s interactive exhibit hall.

The 10th Annual Wayfinding Festival is sponsored by the Ama OluKai Foundation.