In “ The Navigator's”, Mau Pialug highlights his life’s work and culture from Satawal island, an atoll from Micronesia. Through the tradition of way-finding, Mau Pialug, was one of the last navigators to utilize the ancient form of seafaring navigation. 

 In the documentary, it highlights how Mau Pialug was able to guide the Hokulea across the vast ocean due to a couple of factors:  1) Generations before him navigated the waters to forage for food and for other survival needs; and so, that knowledge was passed down to him from his father, grandfather, and previous generations before them (e.g., Mau Pialug started his training at 4 years of age)  2) Cultural values and philosophy. In one frame, Mau Pialug stated that: “ there are three kinds of men, and two kinds of sailors. Those who can navigate are called Palu; those who can navigate using magic, called Pwo. And then there are the rest, the ...men who cannot navigate, who are not looked up to, and don’t have a name”. As a result, the cultural values of the way-finding tradition, led Mau Pialug to become involved with Hokulea, serving to be instrumental on its maiden voyage to Tahiti. 

Overall, the documentary was very insightful and fascinating. A cultural look, to how the oceans belonged to the men; but the land, to the women. However this cultural tradition changed when Mau Pialug granted Nainoa Thompson his permission to also train women as navigators.

Photo credit: Jennifer Ko