Students dove into oceanic wayfinding this summer in the social studies Senior Capstone course, Ke Kilohana: Voyaging. On campus and aboard Punahou’s sailing canoe, Kamaola, students learned the voyaging mindset, which encompasses oceanic navigation as well as environmental stewardship. In addition to multiple sails on Kamaola, students learned from local voyaging experts.
The class centers around the principal, “He wa‘a he moku, he moku he wa‘a: The canoe is an island, the island is a canoe.” While voyaging in the middle of the ocean, there is a keen awareness that resources are limited aboard the canoe. Likewise, on an island, resources are finite and space is limited. In both cases, people must depend on each other, care for their crew or communities, and care for the natural resources in order to survive.
The course is part of the Design Technology and Engineering’s Voyaging curriculum associated with the Academy Learning Commons.
Photos by Kathleen Connelly
