In collaboration with the Native American Cultural Center, Yale’s chapter of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (YAISES), the students of the Yale Astronomical & Space Student Society (YASSS), and the Leitner Family Observatory and Planetarium, we are excited to bring to the public a special night featuring Bruce and Lita Blankenfeld– key figures of the Polynesian Voyaging Society’s efforts to revive Polynesian celestial navigation techniques.
Mr. Blankenfeld is a master navigator of the two wa’a kaulua (double-hulled voyaging canoe)– the Hōkūle’a and the Hikianalia, and was among the first to circumnavigate the globe using traditional celestial navigation techniques revived in the 20th century.
Ms. Blankenfeld plays an integral role in education and the operations of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, fostering awareness and preserving the legacy of wayfinding. Accompanying their appearance are two special showings of “Wayfinders: Waves, Winds, and Stars”, an immersive show on the revival of Pasifika wayfinding culture playing in the Leitner Planetarium screen.
We are honored to have Mr. and Ms. Blankenfeld join us in a culmination of their three day visit in New Haven in this night with the following agenda:
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7th, Leitner Family Observatory and Planetarium.*
5:00-6:00 pm - Planetarium Theater: First showing of “Wayfinders: Waves, Winds, and Stars”
6:00-7:00 pm - Lecture Hall: Open discussion, sky map lecture.
7:00-8:00 pm - Planetarium Theater: Second showing of “Wayfinders: Waves, Winds, and Stars” 7:00-8:00 pm - Star-gazing on LFOP telescope deck.
Please follow @aises.yale, @yaleastrosociety , and @yalenatives on our instagrams for more information!
*Important notice: the First Year Dinner and Holiday Dinner for Yale College Students coincides with this time. We invite and strongly encourage our undergrad students to make their way from the dinner to come to LFOP to join us for more food and take part in this special night.
Photos from Event:
Julia Levy, YASSS president and founder, preparing skyshow with Hawaiian starlines.
more to come…