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Skywatch: Hawaii’s October night sky to feature Jupiter, Saturn, meteors and ‘Kite of Kawelo’
Throughout October the two largest planets of the solar system will be visible in the southwest throughout the early evening. Read more
Throughout October the two largest planets of the solar system will be visible in the southwest throughout the early evening. Read more
Jupiter and Saturn will both be prominent in the early-evening sky in September. Read more
In August, Jupiter and Saturn will both be prominent in the early-evening sky. Read more
July brings a transition between two celestial star families as Kaiwikuamo‘o (the Backbone) works its way toward the western horizon and Manaiakalani (the Fishhook) appears in the east. Read more
Hokule‘a, Arcturus in the constellation Bootes, is the zenith star for Hawaii, passing above the Kau desert on Hawaii island. Read more
Hokule‘a, Arcturus in the constellation Bootes, is the zenith star for Hawaii, passing above the Kau desert on Hawaii island. Read more
April welcomes the spring starline, Kaiwikuamo‘o (the Backbone). Read more
Kekaomakali‘i, the Canoe Bailer, is now filling the western region of the sky. In this starline we can make out the recognizable stars that make up Kaheiheionakeiki, also well known as Orion the Hunter. Read more
Seeing the first of the four star families is a reminder that a new year has begun. Read more
Once again we return to the first of our four star families, Kekaomakali‘i, the Bailer of Makali‘i, as it makes its nightly east-to-west progression across the horizon. Read more
The annual Geminid meteor shower runs through the first two weeks of December and peaks around 2 a.m. Dec. 14. Read more
The arrival of the constellation Makali‘i after sunset on the eastern horizon heralds the beginning of the Read more
The twin stars in the bucket of the Little Dipper, Holopuni (Kochab) and Hokumau (Pherkad) are good clues for determining latitude in the southern hemisphere. Read more
The four star families are modern Hawaiian inventions that have been used consistently by the voyaging community for 25 years. Read more
The circular star compass is divided into four quadrants. Read more
Manaiakalani, the Chief’s Fishline, is the third of our four star families and is prominent in the sky during July, August and September. Read more
As spring turns to summer, the months of May and June have provided Polynesian mariners the best season for making a Tahiti-to-Hawaii Pacific passage. Read more
Spring provides the mariner with excellent conditions for tropical passages between the northern and southern hemispheres. Read more
On March 20 the sun crossed north over the equator in an event called the equinox, a juncture when daylight and nighttime are about equal in length, heralding the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. The Hawaiian word associated with this season is Kupulau (Sprouting Leaf). Read more
This month we focus on the third and final skill set essential for celestial navigation. After orienting the canoe and determining the canoe’s position at sea, the final challenge becomes making landfall. Read more
To navigate the seas using only the stars and other clues from nature, one needs to learn three essential functions: orienting the canoe, determining the canoe’s position at sea and making landfall. Read more