The voyaging canoe Alingano Maisu returned safely to Palau on Monday after traveling to Taiwan and Okinawa on a journey that began in February.
Using only traditional navigation methods, Capt. Sesario Sewralur led the crew of 14 on a sailing expedition that doubled as a platform for education, community engagement, cultural exchange and environmental awareness.
Although the canoe had been scheduled to make several stops – including a visit to Guam - on the return voyage, weather disturbances in the Western Pacific led to a change of plans.
On Monday, the Micronesian Voyaging Society canoe arrived in Palau just after noon, with family, friends and supporters welcoming the sailors home.
The 56-foot Alingano Maisu was built as a gift from Hawaii to master navigator Pius “Mau” Piailug of Satawal, who shared and taught traditional wayfinding to Hawaiians at a time when the knowledge was all but lost.
The Micronesian Voyaging Society preserves and teaches the art of Pacific navigation using stars, swells, wind, clouds and birds as guides.