Stars Unseen

Encouraging observation of the night sky

Feb 10, 2024

“The stars are beautiful, because of a flower that cannot be seen”
- The Little Prince p.14

What may be the flower unseen to you? A safe future? reliable finance? A sufficient island? To the little prince of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, his flower was not loved because she was unique, but because she was deeply cherished. His flower represented time; passing and irreplaceable.

Aloha, Chris here.

Today, I have no stories to share, for I encourage you read these observations and go off to make your own stories.

Digging deeper into the history of Kupuna before us, I stumbled across some manaʻo published from S.M. Kamakau in 1865 called No Ke Ao Hōkū, it was translated by Makemson in 1941. I addressed some solar knowledge acquired from this article in a previous Substack. However, today I want to share some of the passages that followed

11. I kō hiki ʻana i ka piko o wākea e nalowale iā ʻoe ka hōkūpaʻa ʻākau. Alaila e lilo ʻo newe i hōkū alakaʻi hema.

(When you arrive at the “naval string of Wākea” Hōkūpaʻa will disappear from view. And then Newe will be the southern guiding star.)

Hōkūpaʻa, refers to the north star, Newe the southern cross and the naval string of Wakea the equator; hence Kamakau mentioning it disappearing upon arrival to 0°N. These few lines explain the earths tilt from a Hawaiian astronomical perspective. Ive drawn over some computer generated images to try to visualize this shift…

11 (cont.) …a ʻo ka pae hōkū o humu mā nā koa alakaʻi maluna.

(Humu and its companions will be the guiding stars overhead)

“Humu and companions” is most likely referring to the star Altair, and its companions Vega, Deneb and the stars within the Aquila constellation. Here is what they look like from Hawai’i.

11 (cont.) I ka pau ʻana o nā loina iā ʻoe o ka lani.

(Ultimately, the observation of the heavens will be up to you)

Since a lot of you who are reading this are either in Hawai’i or the west coast, ive done some research based off of the stars recanted from kamakau to introduce our little guides between us. Now imagine you are on the west coast facing Hawai’i. These are some important stars you would expect to find along the path… When these way setting bearings toward the southwest are identified through the patches of clouds, they will only remain in this position for an hour before slipping into the dark horizon. Enjoy them while they are present.

If your looking up right now and cannot find these stars, it is OK.

Omens will come in time. What really counts, is the novelty of your awareness… Find that wonderful irreplaceable thing, sound, taste, feel… and keep following it.

12. E aʻo ʻoe I nā loina o ka moana, I nā lā e piʻi ai ke au iluna, a me nā lā e moku ai ilalo, a me nā lā ʻinoʻino a ka wili-au, me nā lā haumalu newenewe mālie, a kū o ke au.

(You will learn the rules of the deep sea; the days when the tides will ebb and flow; the days of turbulence; the days of quiet, calm billows and the movement of the currents.)

That is all for today, mahalo for tuning in!