Polynesian Astronomy

Edited by: Jeremy Sayco

Fall 2015

Polynesian Astronomy

The Beginning:
 The early Polynesians were highly skilled sailors and navigators who sailed
thousands of miles over open ocean between the Society Islands, the
Marquesas, Easter Island in the east, the Hawaiian Islands in the north, and
New Zealand in the southwest. Navigation was accomplished primarily, we
believe, by a thorough knowledge of the stars, their rising and setting points
along the horizon and their meridian passage as a function of latitude. Of
course, there were other indicators in nature that helped guide them: the
winds, the waves, the ocean swells, cloud formations, and birds and fish. These
early Polynesian navigators would not have any type of scientific instruments
or charts until 1778. A British explorer, Captain James Cook, arrived to the
islands followed by numerous amounts of foreign ships. Captain James Cook
introduced the them to spyglasses, sextants, compasses, clocks, and charts,
and the Islanders became easily adapted to Western technology. The
Hawaiians had names for hundreds of stars and other astronomical objects
and concepts. Many of the words were recorded, but not their English
equivalents, which were unknown to the transcribers. Since 1970's there has
been a rebirth of interest in Polynesian astronomy and one of the leaders of
the movement is Nianoa Thompson. Thompson was a native Hawaiian who
found a real passion in ancient art. Thompson was a leader in the
reconstruction of the Polynesian double-hulled voyaging canoe, the Hokule`a,
and its ultimate non-instrumental navigation retracing the voyages of the
ancients.
cited/summarized from
www.ifa.hawaii.edu
http://www.maunakeaastronomyjobs.org/

Origins of Astronomy in Hawaii

www.ifa.hawaii.edu

OVERVIEW: This website is a great site full of information on the early Hawaiians and the origins of
astronomy in Hawaii. It's full of historic pictures and defines the origins of astronomy along side the
ties with Hawaiian history itself.

AUTHOR: Walter Steiger.

REVIEWED: by Jeremy Sayco on December 3, 2015.

ACCURACY: This site seems very accurate because it's sealed with the Institute for Astronomy of
University of Hawaii seal and the information is put together by the department chairman of University
of Hawaii in Manoa.

CLARITY: You can tell this website is meant for high school teenagers and up because of the words
and information that this website displays.

This site is easy to go through because it starts you from the beginning of history and works your way
through each event very thoroughly.

Mauna Kea Astronomical Observatory

www.britannica.com

OVERVIEW: This website is great for learning more about the most important and influential
observatories in the world located in Hawaii, due to it's significant and outstanding observational
conditions.

AUTHOR: The Editors of Encyclopedia of Britannica.

UPDATED: December 5, 2014

REVIEWED: December 3, 2015

ACCURACY: The site seems very accurate by the content and the pictures that
this website contains.

CLARITY: The intended audience are for anyone who is willing to learn more about the Mauna Kea
Astronomical Observatory for projects or even travel ideas.

The site was very easy to follow through and read, very well put together by the author and can attract
the attention of anyone by the statistics it contains.
Hawaiian Star Line
pvs.kcc.hawaii.ed

OVERVIEW   This website is full of information about the Hawaiian star lines and the names of the
constellations along with the names of the stars. This site is full of pictures and going into depth in
each sub-section throughout the page for full understanding

"The Canoe-Bailer of Makali'i

" The Backbone "

" The Chief's Fish line "
" The Kite of Kawelo "
declaimer: all photos are from pvs.kcc.hawaii.edu

AUTHOR: Herb Kawainui Kane.

UPDATED: 2012

REVIEWED: Jeremy Sayco on December 7, 2015

ACCURACY: This website contains a lot of information about the Hawaiian star line and considering
that it's from Hawaiian voyagers themselves, it is represented by a big name in Polynesian/Hawaiian
astronomy.

CLARITY: This site was intended for high school kids and up considering the length, word choice,
and high leveled graphs and information used.

The site wasn't simple at first site, but once you spend more time reading the information and take
your time through the graphs it's easier to piece together.
reference

Polynesian and Micronesian Astronomy

what-when-how.com

OVERVIEW: This website is another beginner information site for people who are trying to understand
more about the culture along with the astronomical views of the Polynesians.This website is the
"what, when, and how" for Polynesian Astronomy.

AUTHOR: What-When-How Writing Staff

UPDATED: N/A

REVIEWED: by Jeremy Sayco on December 9, 2015

ACCURACY: This website is an informational type based site and it looks simply based off research
from other websites, books, textbooks, teachers, professionals. Overall this seems very accurate by
the content that is on this website.

CLARITY: This information is for students and older people who are interested into the topic. It isn't
interesting to look at because of how bland it looks without pictures, but the content is very up to par.

This site was pretty easy to go through and read. That's pretty much all you have to do is read it and
you can understand it.
Hawaiian terms for Stars, Planets, and Space
www.mauna-a-wakea.info

OVERVIEW: This website is created to be sort of like a translation glossary. All of the words down to
the basics are in the context from; star which is hoku all the way to Makulu which is Saturn. This
website is great for anyone trying to learn a language or even just curious and want to know what this
scientific word in english is in hawaiian.

AUTHOR: Namaka

UPDATED: N/A

REVIEWED: by Jeremy Sayco on December 9, 2015

ACCURACY: The accuracy of this website is unquestionably on point, due to the fact, that its a
language and the author is Hawaiian themselves.

CLARITY: The audience would be anyone from little kids and older people, it's easy to scan through
and understand. It's colorful and interesting to look at. The information is just a very interesting thing
in itself.

This site contains information that is very interesting and can grab your attention pretty fast, has
pictures that pop along with the colors that are on the website. There is a feedback page and a lot of
them are great reviews. If you ever want to go to Hawaii especially for the star gazing at night you can
use this website to communicate and to help you get around the islands and understand more about
the culture and Hawaiian astrology.