In a conversation with Lehua Kamalu, a Navigator with the Polynesian Voyaging Society, we discuss Polynesian wayfinding and the upcoming Moananuiākea Voyage, which will circumnavigate the Pacific Ocean.
Journeys
No One Can Agree on How to Celebrate Presidents’ Day
Posted on February 15 2021
Do we celebrate Washington’s birthday? Lincoln’s? All presidents? It depends on the state.
Valentine's Day Guide
Posted on February 12 2021
Maps of the world’s most romantic places and best chocolate shops
How to Use a Sextant
Posted on February 10 2021
What began in 1759 as one of the most useful navigational tools still plays an important role in seafaring today.
Explorers who circumnavigated the globe
Posted on February 08 2021
These little-known explorers traveled the globe by ship, by plane, by spacecraft and by bicycle!
Introduction to February's theme: Black History Month and Explorers
Posted on February 05 2021
Come one, come all geography enthusiasts, travelers, explorers, eternal learners: this month we’re making maps about Black History Month and Explorers. Why Explorers? February 3 is International Map Day, which we celebrated this year by writing about the life of Marco Polo and his adventures along the Silk Road....
Four of the First Black Explorers
Posted on February 05 2021
From the 14th century to modern day, these explorers changed history
Our fate lies in the paws of an immortal groundhog
Posted on February 02 2021
Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow on February 2, meaning six more weeks of winter. But what did the groundhogs nearest your hometown see?
Fact vs. Fiction in the Netflix series "Marco Polo"
Posted on January 29 2021
Did Marco Polo actually cross seas, deserts, and travel the Silk Road? Yes. The geographic descriptions within Marco Polo’s book, “The Travels of Marco Polo”, can be followed by explorers even today. While the show represents Mongolia and China well, the actual film locations were in Kazakhstan and Malaysia.
5 Reasons You Should Travel Every Year
Posted on December 19 2019
It is hard to meet someone who doesn’t wish somewhere deep down they could travel more – we live on an amazing planet and there are so many incredible experience waiting to be had and places to be seen. It is difficult though balancing traveling and what we call “real life”.
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Recent Posts
On the Survival of Polynesian Voyaging: Hōkūleʻa lives on
Feb 19 2021
Photos courtesy of the Polynesian Voyaging Society Story by Ali Harford __ Lehua Kamalu wears many hats: Leader, Educator, Navigator,...
No One Can Agree on How to Celebrate Presidents’ Day
Feb 15 2021
Photo by Ronda Darby via Unsplash Story and Map by Ali Harford __ The federal holiday “Presidents’ Day” falls on the third Monday in Febr...
Valentine's Day Guide
Feb 12 2021
Photo via Unsplash __ Story and Maps by Ali Harford What makes romance? For me, it’s a view of the stars, fantastic food, and so many flo...
How to Use a Sextant
Feb 10 2021
Photo by Matthias Jordan via Unsplash Story and Graphics by Ali Harford __ Imagine you’re an explorer in the 18th century: your ocean voy...
Explorers who circumnavigated the globe
Feb 08 2021
Photo via the Smithsonian Photo via the Smithsonian Martín Ignacio de Loyola by ship from 1582-1584 and 1585-1589 Martín Ignacio de Loy...