Overview:
After more than 1,000 miles at sea, the traditional canoe Alingano Maisu is closing in on Taiwan — sailing out of rough storms and into steady winds as anticipation builds for its March 7 arrival in Kaohsiung.
The voyage is more than a crossing of ocean waters; it is a living classroom of Pacific navigation, cultural resilience and intergenerational leadership. With two first-voyage crew members stepping into history alongside master navigators, this journey signals the rise of a new generation trained on the ocean and grounded in tradition.
The crew of Alingano Maisu is doing well. After navigating through rough weather and heavy storms, they have now reached clearer skies and steady winds. With more than 1,000 miles behind them, the canoe is making strong time as it continues toward Taiwan.
Excitement is building for the official arrival ceremony in Kaohsiung on March 7, where the public is warmly invited to welcome the canoe and crew. The voyage marks another powerful chapter in the living tradition of Pacific navigation —
For daily updates, route information, and crew stories, readers can visit the Micronesian Voyaging Society website and follow the voyage section online.
Meet Two First-Voyage Crew Members
This journey is not only about distance — it is about leadership.El
Zea Nauta, the new Education Coordinator for the Micronesian Voyaging Society, is sailing on her first major voyage. Originally from Guam and a graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi, Zea has spent the past six months in Palau training under Grand Master Navigator Sesario Sewralur. She worked on dry dock restoration, supported school outreach across Palau, and helped coordinate international logistics for the voyage. After returning, she will carry firsthand ocean knowledge back to youth programs across the Pacific and beyond.
Elilai Sugiyama also sails on her first long-distance voyage. Born to a Palauan father and a Shoshone-Bannock mother, she bridges island and continent in her heritage. A member of Palau’s national women’s outrigger team, Elilai practices traditional seafaring skills — from weaving sails to carving hulls — and shares deep knowledge of Palau’s culture, waters, and native species. Ocean and land both run in her story.
This is the next generation of Pacific leadership — trained on the water, grounded in culture, and guided by elders.
Community members in Taiwan and across the region are encouraged to attend the Kaohsiung ceremony and meet the crew in person as the voyage continues