THE

ALINGANO

MAISU

Smiling man with sunglasses on his head, shirtless, preparing food outdoors with greenery in background.

papa mau

Papa Mau was born in 1932 on the island of Satawal in Micronesia, was more than a master navigator—he was a bridge between our oceans. Raised in the tradition of wayfinding by his elders. He was a keeper of a knowledge system passed down by stars, swells, wind, and deep ancestral memory.

When the art of traditional navigation had nearly disappeared in Hawaiʻi, Papa Mau was there to teach a new generation how to find their way home. His guidance made the voyage of Hōkūleʻa to Tahiti possible—proving that our ancestors were master seafarers, and that their knowledge still lived.

For those who knew him or learned from his teachings, Papa Mau was more than a teacher—he was a living embodiment of our connection to the ocean, to one another, and to the ancestors who came before us. His decision to share his sacred knowledge helped ignite a cultural renaissance across the Pacific.

He passed in 2010, but his spirit sails on. Every canoe that launches, every student who learns to read the stars, every voyager who trusts the ocean—carries part of him forward. Papa Mau didn’t just revive navigation. He helped us remember who we are.

Honoring a Legacy : The 17th Voyage of Alingano Maisu

The Alingano Maisu is more than a canoe—it is a living vessel of knowledge, identity, and connection across the Pacific.

Constructed in June 2003 by Nā Kālai Waʻa and the ʻOhana Waʻa, Maisu was built in honor of Grand Master Navigator Pius "Papa Mau" Piailug. In March 2007, the canoe completed its maiden voyage to Satawal, Micronesia—Papa Mau’s home—alongside Hōkūleʻa, symbolizing a powerful reconnection between Hawaiʻi and Micronesia.

Today, the Micronesian Voyaging Society (MVS), a community-based organization headquartered in Palau, carries that legacy forward. Rooted in the teachings of Mau Piailug, MVS is dedicated to preserving and advancing the ancestral art of Pacific navigation—without modern instruments—using stars, swells, wind, clouds, and birds as guides.

At the center of this work is Alingano Maisu, currently moored outside Neco Marine in Koror, Palau. The canoe now serves as a floating classroom for youth leadership, environmental stewardship, and cultural exchange. Traditional navigation is taught by Sesario Sewralur—Mau’s son and a master navigator in his own right—through Palau Community College and MVS-led programs.

Guided by a board of voyaging champions and cultural leaders, MVS continues to pass on these teachings to the next generation. In April and May 2025, Alingano Maisu will embark on its 17th voyage—a historic journey from Palau to Taiwan. This cultural exchange voyage not only strengthens regional partnerships but also reawakens the deep seafaring ties that connect Austronesian peoples across oceans and generations.

meet the board , OUR crew, AND partners

  • An elderly man wearing a white shirt and a flower crown, standing indoors with a serious expression.

    Chief Reklai Bao Ngirmang Board member

  • Smiling man with gray hair and mustache wearing a white collared shirt, standing outdoors in front of green tropical plants.

    Patrick Tellei - President - Palau Community College

  • An older man with a gray beard and mustache smiling, wearing a yellow t-shirt, a floral crown made of pink and yellow flowers, a necklace of white flowers, and a green sash, with a background of a boat dock and lush green trees.

    Sesario Sewralur - Captain and Grand Master Navigator Satawal

  • An elderly man with gray hair and a beard standing outdoors near boats, wearing a black Adidas t-shirt, with a marina and boat yard in the background.

    Mr. Shallum Etpison President

  • A man wearing a pink flower lei on his head, speaking into a microphone, with a wooden ceiling background.

    President Tommy Remengesau, Jr.Board member

  • A smiling older man with gray hair and a mustache, wearing a teal button-up shirt, standing outdoors near water with a landscape of hills or islands in the background.

    Mr. Alan R. Seid, Sr. Vice President

  • Man wearing glasses and a flower lei on his head speaking into a microphone at an outdoor event.

    Dr. Victor Yano Board Member

  • An elderly woman wearing a straw hat, glasses, and a blue shirt holding a microphone, with another woman in a floral shirt standing in the background.

    Min. Faustina Rehuher-Marugg Board member

  • A middle-aged man with gray hair and a mustache, wearing a bright yellow shirt and sunglasses hanging around his neck, standing outdoors near a body of water with a blurred landmass in the background.

    Wayne Adelbai Koror - Palau - CREW MEMBER

  • A middle-aged man with short dark hair and a beard, wearing a sleeveless sports shirt with various logos, standing in what appears to be a rustic, open-air structure with a car and wooden beams in the background.

    Miano Sowraenpiy - Satawal - CREW MEMBER

  • A man standing behind a microphone on a stand, with a background of window blinds, smiling and placing his hand over his chest.

    Ismael Tewalmai - FSM - CREW MEMBER

  • A woman wearing a floral headdress with yellow and white flowers, a navy blue shirt with text, and multiple orange necklaces, standing outdoors at a festival or market.

    Kazuyo Hayashi - CREW MEMBER

  • A woman outdoors wearing a navy blue hat with a white logo and text, black t-shirt, and hoop earrings, with water and land in the background.

    Andrea Yamoka Carr - Saipan 500 Sails - CREW MEMBER

  • Young man smiling outdoors, wearing a dark baseball cap, light blue T-shirt, and a gold chain necklace.

    Moss Sewralur - FSM - CREW MEMBER

  • A middle-aged man with a gray beard wearing a black cap with white writing and a black shirt, standing outdoors near water with a distant island and cloudy sky in the background.

    Edson Limes - Saipan - CREW MEMBER

  • Clyde Raus - FSM - CREW MEMBER

  • A man wearing glasses and a floral headband speaks into a microphone, wearing a bright yellow shirt, with another person in similar attire and floral headband in the background at a cultural or festive event.

    Andrew Polloi - Palau - UH Hilo - CREW MEMBER

  • Man wearing glasses and a blue hat with a pink flower crown, sitting at a table, signing or writing on a surface, with other people around.

    Andew Kai Wing Lau - Australia / Taiwan - CREW MEMBER

  • A smiling man with a beard wearing a flower crown and a lei, dressed in a red shirt, in a tropical or Hawaiian-themed setting.

    MATTHEW LANE CREW MEMBER

  • A man wearing a flower crown, blue athletic shirt, and lei necklace in front of boats and green trees.

    Cheng Cheng Li - Crew Member

  • Man wearing sunglasses and a Hawaiian shirt with fish print, sitting outdoors near boats, gesturing with his hands.

    Chang Yeh Hsia Man - Taiwan -Lanyu - Documentary Film Maker - CREW MEMBER

  • An elderly woman wears a yellow shirt with the text 'SAIL ON SAIL ALWAYS ALL FORE' and a floral crown made of pink flowers and green leaves. She has glasses hanging around her neck and appears to be in a thoughtful or serious mood.

    Ron Soriaro Acfalle - Guam - Ulitao - CREW MEMBER

Group of nine people outdoors near a dock and boats with lush green hills and two large posters in the background. The posters feature scenic scenery and handwritten messages about Palau and its culture.

Rooted in shared values and mutual support, this collaboration combines traditional voyaging knowledge with cutting-edge environmental science. Together, the partners are creating immersive programs—like the Palau Pledge Camps—that connect youth to Indigenous navigation, ridge-to-reef stewardship, and deep ocean awareness.

Over the coming years, the partnership will expand the Network, support international engagement, and lead key initiatives including the launch of Ol’au Palau in 2025 and the Alingano Maisu voyage to Hawai‘i in 2027. These milestones reflect a broader vision: to build cultural resilience, inspire the next generation of leaders, and strengthen regional collaboration through education, science, and ancestral wisdom.

This growing effort is made possible with early support from the GEF Small Grants Programme.

The Micronesian Voyaging Society (MVS), Palau Pledge, and the Pacific Academic Institute for Research (PAIR) have formed a long-term partnership to advance cultural preservation, environmental education, and sustainable development across Micronesian island nations.