Hawaiian Voyage is a tribute to the wa'a kaulua, a Polynesian
double-hulled voyaging canoe.  Traditionally constructed from
wood, these canoes were the vehicle of choice for Hawaiians to
navigate over 16 million square miles in the Pacific.  A modern
version, the Hokule'a, now continues the voyaging in the present
day.  Hawaiians were highly skilled long-distance navigators and
seamen, using celestial navigation and knowledge of wind and
weather patterns to accomplish purposeful exploration.  
Navigators were thus regarded as scientists and held a high
ranking in the Hawaiian caste system.