The Heritable Innovation Trust honors intellect, information, and wisdom that have been passed down throughout history. On July 12, 2010, a great man who fully embodied the spirit of the Trust passed away. Mau Piailug, 78, originally of Satawal Island (part of the Federated States of Micronesia) was one of the last great master navigators of the sea, having learned to navigate the ocean without the use any modern instruments. As a young boy, knowledge of non-instrumental seafaring was passed down to him from his grandfather, and is a skill taught only inside family structures. He learned lessons including how to read moving clouds, stars, swells and reefs and was initiated as a palu at the age of 18. (1) As he grew older, Mr. Piailug realized that he was one of the last wisdom carriers of this tradition. Fearing loss of the practice due to the increasing popularity of Western culture and modern tools, he decided to break with teaching tradition and start teaching outside his family and community. "He understood that he had to teach without restriction and without hesitation and spread as many seeds of interest as possible…(and)…taught me without holding back." (1) In 1976, Mr. Piailug used his skills and knowledge to steer a sailing canoe from Hawaii to Tahiti, a distance of about 3000 miles. His voyage confirmed the possibility that Pacific islanders sailed to Hawaii using non-modern instruments, tools and ships. This linkage filled a critical gap in Hawaiian cultural history and is one of the first places that Mr. Piailug brought his teachings. In his final years, he was at peace with his decision to spread knowledge and commented, "When they put me in the ground, it's all right because I already planted a seed in Hawaii." (2) Citations: (1) Emma Brown @ Washington Post Online, "Micronesian let nature's clues guide sailing." July 21, 2010 Link (2) Stephen Miller @ Wall Street Journal, "Pacific Navigator Kept Sailing Techniques Afloat" July 15, 2010 Link

• MLD's blog
• Login to post comments