15-07-2025
Historic Alingano Maisu voyage brings new opportunities to learn traditional navigation
A historic voyage from Palau to Taiwan has brought with it new opportunities to learn traditional navigation.
The traditional double-hulled voyaging canoe Alingano Maisu's 58-day cultural expedition was led by Grandmaster Navigator Sesario Sewralur, son of legendary Micronesian navigator and teacher Mau Piailug.
The crew included members from Palau, Yap, Satawal, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, Taiwan, the US, and Japan, with one woman among the 11-member team — Andrea Yamoka Carr from Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands.
"I highly recommend young ladies, women doing things that used to be only for the men but you know, women can also do," Carr said.
Prepping for the voyage. ( Image: Selket Kaufman )
The first-of-its-kind voyage retraced ancient sea routes and served as a floating classroom, reconnecting Pacific Islanders with traditional navigation, environmental stewardship, and indigenous knowledge.
"This was a true success in showing our children the cultural values we hold as ocean people," Sewralur said.
"One ocean, one people. The youth of today are our sunrise, and we, the elders, are the sunset. We must help them understand: they will be the sunset of tomorrow, carrying this knowledge forward."
Sesario Sewralur is also the son of legendary navigator and teacher Mau Piailug. ( Image: Selket Kaufman )
In partnership with Palau Community College, the Micronesian Voyaging Society (MVS) plans to launch crew camps, training, and navigation classes while the Alingano Maisu is in dry dock with work planned from August through November.
Young people are encouraged to learn this traditional knowledge from their elders. ( Image: Nishida Ryota. )
During this period, the canoe will host interested groups from throughout the region, creating hands-on experiences and fostering deeper cultural ties.
"Our ancestors followed the stars to find their way. Now, the next generation carries that knowledge forward, enriched by what they've learned in school," said Dr Patrick Tellei, President of Palau Community College.
Students preparing plants for the voyage at Palau Community College and high school. ( Image: Selket Kaufman )
Carr encouraged young people to learn from their elders, as they had information and knowledge passed down from generation to generation.
"I hear a lot of people say, 'Oh, I wish I would have talked to my grandmother because she knows this, she knows that, but too late, she's already dead',' Carr said.
"In my heart, I always hope that the younger generation can continue … that this will still continue and perpetuate into the future and that they're able to teach the next generation and the next generation because we cannot let this stop."
