Mau Piailug

Micronesian navigator

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July 17, 2026

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Mau Piailug was a Micronesian navigator from Satawal, an island in the Federated States of Micronesia. He was instrumental in the revival of traditional Polynesian navigation. In 1976, he navigated the reconstructed voyaging canoe Hokule'a on its first voyage from Hawaii to Tahiti. Piailug later trained Nainoa Thompson, a Hawaiian navigator who has since trained many others in these ancient seafaring techniques. His contributions have been vital to the reawakening of Pacific voyaging traditions, with the canoe Alingano Maisu gifted to him in 2007 as a token of gratitude.1

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Micronesian culture
The Micronesian way of life
Mau Piailug (born 1932), who grew up on Satawal in the Federated States of Micronesia, where traditional navigation is still practiced, navigated the reconstructed Polynesian voyaging canoe Hokule’a on her maiden voyage from Hawaii to Tahiti in 1976. He later trained the Hawaiian navigator Nainoa…
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Mau Piailug (born 1932), who grew up on Satawal in the Federated States of Micronesia, where traditional navigation is still practiced, navigated the reconstructed Polynesian voyaging canoe Hokule’a on her maiden voyage from Hawaii to Tahiti in 1976. He later trained the Hawaiian navigator Nainoa…
Read More