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How did Polynesian wayfinders navigate the Pacific Ocean? - Alan Tamayose and Shantell De Silva

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TEDEd Animation

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Imagine setting sail from Hawaii in a canoe. Your target is a small island thousands of kilometers away in the middle of the Pacific Ocean — a body of water that covers more than 160 million square kilometers. For thousands of years, Polynesian navigators managed voyages like this without the help of modern navigational aids. How did they do it? Alan Tamayose and Shantell De Silva explain.

How did the navigator use ocean swells to determine direction?

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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Alan Tamayose, Shantell De Silva
  • Director Patrick Smith
  • Script Editor Brendan Pelsue
  • Animator Patrick Smith
  • Associate Producer Jessica Ruby
  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Narrator Addison Anderson

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