MAULOA: THE CANOE THAT AWAKENED OUR WAY

This student-made film tells the story of how a community brought back an important part of their culture by building the traditional voyaging canoe, Mauloa. Through the voices of three waʻa crew members and navigators, we learn how they used the same tools and methods as their ancestors, asked permission from the land, and relearned the art of celestial navigation. Guided by master navigator Papa Mau, the canoe became more than just a vessel — it helped awaken cultural practices that had been “sleeping” for generations. Mauloa shows how reconnecting to tradition can guide a community into the future.