Over 1,000 years ago, the scattered islands of Polynesia were settled by an ancient seafaring people. Where did they come from? How did they navigate across the vast Pacific Ocean to settle one-third of Earth's surface? To find out, anthropologist Sam Low visited the tiny coral atoll of Satawal, in Micronesia's remote Caroline Islands, to film Mau Piailug as he guides his canoe by using subtle signs in the waves, winds and stars. In his lofty canoe house he teaches the intricacies of this ancient sea science in a ceremony called "unfolding the mat" by arranging 32 lumps of coral to represent the points of his "star compass." Restored and Remastered: 2013 Original Release: 1983
Broadcast In: English Duration: 0:57:47