Nainoa Thompson
Encyclopedia
Charles Nainoa Thompson (born March 11, 1953, Oahu
, Hawaii
) is a Native Hawaiian navigator
and the executive director of the Polynesian Voyaging Society
. He is best known as the first Hawaiian to practice the ancient Polynesian art of navigation
since the 14th century, having navigated two double-hulled canoes (the Hokule‘a
and the Hawai‘iloa
) from Hawaii
to other island nations in Polynesia
without the aid of western instruments.
, Thompson graduated from Punahou School
in 1972 and earned a BA in Ocean Science in 1986 from the University of Hawai`i. Thompson was trained by master navigator Mau Piailug
from the island of Satawal
and assisted him on the first voyage of the Hokule‘a in 1976.
His first solo voyage was from Hawaii to Tahiti in 1980. Since then, Thompson has been the lead navigator on the subsequent voyages of Hokule‘a, including the Voyage of Rediscovery from 1985 to 1987.
On March 18, 2007, Thompson and four other native Hawaiian navigators were inducted into Pwo
as master navigators. The ceremony was conducted by Piailug on Satawal.
(a post that his father Myron "Pinky" Thompson also held), and a member of the Board of Regents
for the University of Hawaii
.
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
) is a Native Hawaiian navigator
Navigator
A navigator is the person on board a ship or aircraft responsible for its navigation. The navigator's primary responsibility is to be aware of ship or aircraft position at all times. Responsibilities include planning the journey, advising the Captain or aircraft Commander of estimated timing to...
and the executive director of the Polynesian Voyaging Society
Polynesian Voyaging Society
The Polynesian Voyaging Society is a non-profit research and educational corporation based in Honolulu, Hawaii. PVS was established to research and perpetuate traditional Polynesian voyaging methods...
. He is best known as the first Hawaiian to practice the ancient Polynesian art of navigation
Navigation
Navigation is the process of monitoring and controlling the movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another. It is also the term of art used for the specialized knowledge used by navigators to perform navigation tasks...
since the 14th century, having navigated two double-hulled canoes (the Hokule‘a
Hokulea
Hōkūlea is a performance-accurate full-scale replica of a waa kaulua, a Polynesian double-hulled voyaging canoe. Launched on 8 March 1975 by the Polynesian Voyaging Society, she is best known for her 1976 Hawaii to Tahiti voyage performed with Polynesian navigation techniques, without modern...
and the Hawai‘iloa
Hawaiiloa
Hawaiiloa is the hero of an ancient Hawaiian legend about the settling of the Hawaiian Islands. After having accidentally stumbled upon the islands, he returned to his homeland which he called Ka āina kai melemele a Kane, "the land of the yellow sea of Kane". He then organized a colonizing...
) from Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
to other island nations in Polynesia
Polynesia
Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs...
without the aid of western instruments.
Early life and career
Born in Honolulu, HawaiiHonolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
, Thompson graduated from Punahou School
Punahou School
Punahou School, once known as Oahu College, is a private, co-educational, college preparatory school located in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu in the U.S. State of Hawaii...
in 1972 and earned a BA in Ocean Science in 1986 from the University of Hawai`i. Thompson was trained by master navigator Mau Piailug
Mau Piailug
Pius "Mau" Piailug was a Micronesian navigator from the Carolinian island of Satawal, best known as a teacher of traditional, non-instrument wayfinding methods for deep-sea voyaging...
from the island of Satawal
Satawal
Satawal is a solitary coral atoll of one island located at in the Caroline Islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district in Yap State in the Federated States of Micronesia...
and assisted him on the first voyage of the Hokule‘a in 1976.
His first solo voyage was from Hawaii to Tahiti in 1980. Since then, Thompson has been the lead navigator on the subsequent voyages of Hokule‘a, including the Voyage of Rediscovery from 1985 to 1987.
On March 18, 2007, Thompson and four other native Hawaiian navigators were inducted into Pwo
Pwo
Pwo is a sacred initiation ritual, in which students of traditional navigation in the Caroline Islands in Micronesia become master navigators and are initiated in the associated secrets. Many islanders in the area indicate that this ceremony originated on the island of Pollap, or nearby islands.The...
as master navigators. The ceremony was conducted by Piailug on Satawal.
Currently
Thompson currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Trustees for Kamehameha SchoolsKamehameha Schools
Kamehameha Schools , formerly called Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate , is a private co-educational college-preparatory institution that specializes in Native Hawaiian language and cultural education. It is located in Hawaii and operates three campuses: Kapālama , Pukalani , and Keaau...
(a post that his father Myron "Pinky" Thompson also held), and a member of the Board of Regents
Board of Regents
In the United States, a board often governs public institutions of higher education, which include both state universities and community colleges. In each US state, such boards may govern either the state university system, individual colleges and universities, or both. In general they operate as...
for the University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
.