Voyage Home 2000 / Explorations

Navigation Questions

by Kahualaulani Mick; Hokule'a Assistant Navigator

1. Why does Hokule'a plan to sail NNE toward Rangiroa when it departs from Tahiti, rather than straight toward Hawai'i, which is N by W? (See the star compass, course lines and course strategy, PVS homepage.)

2. What is the most consistent celestial guide for the non-instrument navigator?

3. How many planets are currently visible in the night sky for use in navigation? Name the planets; what are the nearest stars to these planets? When does each planet rise and set and in what directions?

4. On a night of 100% cloud cover and no visible clues in the night sky to tell direction, should we continue sailing or should we close up the sails and wait for some celestial clues to emerge?

5. Check your moon calendars. When is the moon full in February? Why did we try to time the voyage so that we have a bright moon shining at night in the Intertropical Convergence Zone (3 degrees N to 9 degrees N)? (Hint: can the moon be used in navigation? If so how?)

6. North of the equator, if you could pick just one visible star to guide the canoe, what star would that be? Why?

7. Why is it important to have some moonlight at night when approaching the latitude of Hawai'i? (Hint: it has to do with estimating latitude.)

8. The Southern Cross is the primary constellation used for estimating the latitude of Hawai'i. In Hawaiian, it is called Hanaiakamalama ("Cared for by the Moon"). Why is this name appropriate?