A recent article in Conde Nast Traveler (April, 2022) reminded me of how much we’ve lost. Having lost much of the beauty of the night sky due to increasing light, just finding some of the dimmer constellations can be a hassle; however, thousands of years ago, seafarers, especially those in the realm of the Pacific Ocean, depended on the positions of stars to guide them. Of course, these sailors also depended on birds that hovered near land formations, clouds, and their knowledge of ocean currents, but, when darkness came, it was the people and the stars. Today, though, GPS and other computer detectors determine the way around the islands. But, fortunately, there are people willing to continue the old way to navigate, including our military, who realize that sometimes even the best computer programs break down.

In Tahiti, the Traditional Sailing Canoe School shows how canoes can travel distances along the Tahitian islands without modern equipment. To the student in the boat, instructor Teiva Veronique seems to be paddling aimlessly; yet, he is taking his cues from nature.

To show this could be accomplished in today’s world, in 1976, Hawaii’s Polynesian Voyaging Society, in order to prove it could actually happen, sent out a sailing boat toward Tahiti. Thirty-four days later, it arrived safely.

Yes, some of you might recall an earlier attempt to travel farther. In 1947, Thor Heyerdahl set sail on the Kon-Tiki, bound for Polynesia from South America; however, as a backup, it was equipped with such as a radio, watches, charts, sextants, and other modern equipment, as Heyerdahl was more concerned with the ability of his boat, made up mainly of balsa wood, to make the 4,000-plus mile trip. But, to be able to travel with no equipment of any kind, other than knowledge of the world around you, is something else. Imagine being able to venture thousands of miles across the Pacific Ocean, carrying nothing but your senses, and, at night, having a sky that allows you to know your “guide stars” by just looking up. The Traditional Sailing Canoe School is proving that it can happen. If only we had a sky that beautiful to use.