Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations

Lessons from a modern wayfinder who navigates the ocean without GPS

Part 1 of the TED Radio Hour episode Escaping the modern world and your noisy mind

Lehua Kamalu captains a Hawaiian voyaging canoe across the Pacific. She says traditional navigation requires forgetting the modern world and immersing herself in her surroundings.

About Lehua Kamalu

Lehua Kamalu is a captain and navigator of traditional Hawaiian ocean-voyaging canoes. She has captained several journeys, including from Hawaii to Tahiti and California. She now serves as Program Director for the Polynesian Voyaging Society.

This segment of the TED Radio Hour was produced by Rachel Faulkner White and edited by Sanaz Meshkinpour. You can follow us on Facebook @TEDRadioHourand email us at [email protected].

Web Resources
Related TED Bio: Lehua Kamalu
Related TED Talk: Making laws for the high seas
Related TED Video: How big is the ocean?

Related NPR Links
Cole Brauer is the first American woman to sail nonstop, alone around the world
How Hawaii Is Keeping History And Culture In Mind As It Rebuilds
A second ancient canoe is found in Wisconsin — this time tracing back to 1000 B.C.

Copyright 2025 NPR

Manoush Zomorodi
Manoush Zomorodi is the host of TED Radio Hour. She is a journalist, podcaster and media entrepreneur, and her work reflects her passion for investigating how technology and business are transforming humanity.
Rachel Faulkner White
Rachel Faulkner White is a producer and editor for TED Radio Hour.
Sanaz Meshkinpour
[Copyright 2024 NPR]