AST201L.Lab10.Word (1)

NAME & USERNAME: SECTION: LAB 10 POLYNESIAN WAYFINDING, II INTRODUCTION In this lab, we will continue to explore the tools and techniques taught and used by the Polynesian Voyaging Society on traditional canoeing voyages. These techniques were developed during the 1970s and 80s, when wayfinding underwent a revival with the purpose of preserving cultural knowledge and reviving voyaging traditions in Polynesia. As the Polynesian Voyaging Society explains: “ Hōkūle a, our Star of Gladness, began as a dream of reviving the legacy of exploration, courage, and ingenuity that brought ʻ the first Polynesians to the archipelago of Hawai’i. The canoes that brought the first Hawaiians to their island home had disappeared from earth... On that first voyage, we were facing cultural extinction. There was no navigator from our culture left. The Voyaging Society looked beyond Polynesia to find a traditional navigator to guide Hōkūle‘a: Mau Piailug, a navigator from a small island called Satawal, in Micronesia. He agreed to come to Hawai’i and guide Hōkūle‘a to Tahiti.” — Polynesian Voyaging Society 1 Many of the techniques explored in this lab, specifically the star compass, were developed by Mau Piailug’s student, Nainoa Thompson. Much of the knowledge below was also taught to us by Chad Kālepa Baybayan, Hōkūle‘a captain and navigator in residence at the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai’i. Sadly, in April 2021, during the creation of this lab, Kālepa passed away. We wish to take this space to honor his legacy as a navigator and educator. Without his expertise and willingness to share his expertise in traditional navigational techniques, this lab would not exist. 2 LEARNING GOALS The points below are the expected topics to understand by the end of this lab period. Remember to review these points before completing the lab. If you do not understand one, review the steps that cover it and discuss with your instructor.  Understand the construction of the star compass  Learn the four Hawaiian Star Families and view at least one in the night sky 1 Polynesian Voyaging Society’s website is at www.hokulea.com/voyages/our-story/ . 2 See In memoriam: Chad Kālepa Baybayan from University of Hawaii news at www.hawaii.edu/news/2021/04/09/in-memoriam-chad-kalepa-baybayan/ . LAB10-1

NAME & USERNAME: SECTION: STEP 1: SETTING UP THE STAR COMPASS In this step, you will reconstruct Nainoa Thompson’s Star Compass . This mnemonic device helps navigators to remember where stars rise and set. While the path a star takes through the sky depends on the latitude of the observer, the star rises and sets in nearly the same direction in the mid-latitudes. "The star compass is the basic mental construct for navigation. We have Hawaiian names for the houses of the stars – the place where they come out of the ocean and go back into the ocean. If you can identify the stars as they rise and set, and if you have memorized where they rise and set, you can find your direction.”— from The Star Compass by Nainoa Thompson for the Polynesian Voyaging Society 3 First, examine the star compass on the next page. Notice that the compass is divided into 32 sections, or houses. Notice the mirror symmetry of the houses: this symmetry is such that a star rises and sets in the same house. Notice also the 180-degree rotational symmetry of the houses. This symmetry is such that when the front of the boat is pointed towards one house, the back of the boat is pointed towards the same house, which is demonstrated by the bird at the center of the compass. 1. To get started, note that the degree markings begin at 0 at the top of the compass ( i.e., North) and increase as you go in a clockwise direction around the edge of the compass. The cardinal directions and the quadrants are labeled on the inside of the star compass, according to the table below. The four cardinal directions are the first four houses on the star compass. Hawaiian Cardinal Directions Hawaiian Cardinal Direction Quadrants Star Compass House Names ‘Ākau Hikina Hema Komohana North East (Arriving) South West (Entering) Ko'olau Malanai Kona Ho’olua NE quadrant (windward side of the islands) SE quadrant (a gentle breeze) SW quadrant (leeward side of the islands) NW quadrant (a strong north wind) Lā Āina Noio Manu Nālani Nā Leo Haka Sun Land Tern Bird Heavens Voices Emptiness 2. The rest of the houses have names and their meanings above. Starting from Hikina and Komohana outwards , label the houses in increments along the inside of the star compass. For example, the closest houses to Hikina and Komohana should all be Lā . 3. Given that the star compass contains 32 houses and a circle is 360 ° , how many degrees does one house on the compass span? [0.5pt] 11.25 degrees 4. On the Equinox, Lā (the Sun) rises due directly east and sets due directly west. In which house does Lā rise on the Equinox? In which house does Lā set on the Equinox? Note that the rising horizon is on the right, and the setting horizon is on the left. Label these points with the dates, March 21st and September 21, on the outer edge of the star compass. [0.5pt] Hikina and komohana 5. On June 21st, Lā rises 23.5 ° north of east, and sets 23.5 ° north of west. In which house does Lā rise and set on June 21st? Label these points with the date on the outer edge of the star compass. [0.5pt] Rise: Ko’Olau Set: Ho’Olua 6. On December 21st, Lā rises 23.5 ° south of east and sets 23.5 ° south of west. In which house does Lā rise and set on December 21st? Label these points with the date on the outer edge of the star compass. [0.5pt] Rise: Malanai Set: Kon 3 See full article at www.hokulea.com/education-at-sea/polynesian-navigation/the-star-compass/ . KOMOHANA HEMA HIKINA ‘ĀKAU LAB10-2

NAME & USERNAME: SECTION: We will now add other stars to the compass using Stellarium. As before, ensure you have a clear view of the horizon by turning off the Landscape option at the bottom. Next, set your location to Hawai’i . Star Rising Direction (deg) House A’a (Sirius) 107 Aina Ka Mole Honua (Acrux) 161 NA leo Hōkūlei (Capella) 45 Manu Kamailehope (Rigil Kent or α Centauri) 146.25 Nalani Keoe (Vega) 56.25 Noio Puana (Procyon) 90 Hikina Hikianalia (Spica) 101.25 La Ke Ali’i o Kona i ka Lewa (Canopus) 146.25 Nalani Humu (Altair) 76.75 la Puanakau (Rigel) 101.25 la Lehuakona (Antares) 112.5 aina Determine the direction each of the following stars rises. Use the time control at the bottom right box until the star is on the horizon, click on the star, then note down the first coordinate in the Az/Alt row. This is the heading of the star. Next, determine which house each star rises in , and label the star on the rising side of the star compass. If you are having trouble finding a star, you can use the search bar at the top of the screen to find it, using its Western name. [5pt] STEP 3: THE FOUR STAR FAMILIES Outdoor sky-watching exercise LAB10-4

NAME & USERNAME: SECTION: Nā ‘Ohana Hōkū Ehā (the Four Star Families) divide ka lanipa a ʻ (the Celestial Sphere) into four sections that run from North to South. These families group together bright stars into recognizable constellations in order to help a navigator identify which stars they are looking at. Each star family is named after a different tool as follows and is visible in the evening sky during a different time of year as follows: The four star families can be remembered using the following chant called Ka Ipu Ho’okule (The Navigator’s Gourd) devised by Kaimana Barcarse. The name of the chart refers to the traditional use of a gourd as a carrying case for small objects. Kāhea: E ‘ohi’ohiināpono Pane: He kā, he iwi, he makau, he lupe Kākou: Ualako ka ipu a ka ho’okele (Call: gather up your tools) (Response: A bailer, a bone, a fishhook, and a kite) (All: The gourd of the navigator is provisioned) In this step, let’s try to identify and observe one of the star families in the night sky. 1. Using the table above, identify and write down which star family you will observe for current season. [1pt] Kalupeakawelo/The kite of kawelo Find the star chart that you need in the Appendices to locate the star family in the evening skies of your location 4 . Hold the star chart above your head, lining up North, South, East and West with their physical directions in your location in order to use the star chart. 2. Note down the date and time of your observations below. 11/7/2023 11:58 3. Draw your view of the star family you observed relative to the horizon in the blank star chart below. Be sure to include the lines connecting the bright stars in each family, and label the brightest stars with their Hawai’ian names as in the star charts in the Appendices. [1pt] 4. The star charts and descriptions are from the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center, which is located in Hilo, Hawai’i. Additionally, these charts depict the sky as it appears in the early evening. How is your view of the sky different from the constellations as seen from Hawai’i at the times noted? Why do you observe these differences? [1pt] The difference between here and Hawai'i is the different angles and latitude. We observe the difference because it can give an insight to why some of the shapes/art of the constellations are different in different cultures. 4 Star charts and their descriptions are from the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center at imiloahawaii.org/sky-charts . LAB10-5

NAME & USERNAME: SECTION: You may use the online Stellarium website to do STEP 3 if the sky is cloudy all week long. Please note on your lab if you do it this way, and contact your instructor directly. Alternatives To Observations LAB10-7

NAME & USERNAME: SECTION: APPENDIX 10.A: MALAKI (MARCH) STAR CHART The winter-spring Star Family is called Kekāomakali i ʻ , the Bailer of Makali ʻ i. To find the Bailer , search for Kaheiheionākeiki , Orion the Hunter, and the three stars of his belt. These three stars rise a little South of due East. Kekāomakali i ʻ resembles the shape of a Canoe Bailer, with the scoop of the bailer carrying Orion and other stars overhead and “pouring” them out towards the west. To identify the scoop, look to the northeast and the constellation Auriga, The Charioteer, and locate the golden-yellow hued brightest star in the constellation, Hōkūlei, Capella. Continue to follow the semi-circular scoop shape southward to the next two stars in the Star Family, the twin stars of Gemini, Nānāmua and Nānāhope (Looking Forward and Looking Back), Castor and Pollux. Continuing south the next star in the family is Puana , Procyon, in the constellation Canis Minor. The Bailer section of the scoop terminates with the brightest star in the night sky, A ā ʻ ʻ , Sirius in Canis Major. To see the handle of the bailer , draw a mental line between A ā ʻ ʻ and Keali iokonaikalewa ʻ (Chief of the Southern Skies), Canopus, the second brightest star in the night sky. The scoop shape carries the constellations of Orion, Taurus, and the Pleiades ( Makali‘i ) up from the east and “pours” them into the western horizon once they cross the meridian, the imaginary line that runs overhead from north to south and marks the middle of the sky. LAB10-8

NAME & USERNAME: SECTION: APPENDIX 10.C: KEPAKEMAPA (SEPTEMBER) STAR CHART The summer-fall Star Family is Mānaiakalani , the Fishhook of Maui . A triangle of stars in the northeast represents a coil of fishing line that belongs to the demigod, Maui. It extends southward and is tied to the top of a fish hook-shaped constellation. It fishes along the bottom of the sea for a magical Giant Trevally, Pimoe , Sagittarius. The three stars in the northeast form the Summer Triangle: Pira etea ʻ , Deneb in the constellation Cygnus the Swan; Keoe , Vega in the constellation Lyra the Harp; and Humu , Altair in the constellation Aquilae the Eagle. Join the Summer Triangle in the northeast to Kamakaunuiamaui (Maui s Fish Hook), Scorpio, in the southeast. The hook is baited and fishing for the Giant Trevally, ʻ Pimoe . LAB10-10

NAME & USERNAME: SECTION: APPENDIX 10.D: KEKEMAPA (DECEMBER) STAR CHART The last Star Family for fall-winter is Kalupeakawelo , the kite of Kawalo , which completes the final section of stars on the celestial sphere and the Hawaiian Wayfinder’s full picture of the entire night sky. Kalupeakawelo is made up of the Great Square of Pegasus, a square- shaped kite that rises from the eastern horizon and flies overhead towards the western horizon. The four stars of the Great Square are named for Hawaiian chiefs; Keawe of Hawai ʻ i Island, Pi ilani ʻ of Maui, Kākuhihewa of O ahu, and ʻ Manokalanipo of Kaua ʻ i. Lines guide the kite overhead, anchored in the north to ʻ Iwakeli i ʻ , Cassieopia, and Kamō ī ʻ , Cephus the King. In the south they are held in place by Pi ikea ʻ , Diphda; Kaikilani , Anka a; ʻ Kalanikauleleaiwi , Archenar; Kukaniloko , Fomalhaut; and Nālani , Alnair in Grus the Crane. LAB10-11