Following a crushing defeat in battle, an island people are forced into exile by the victors. In a dream, the chief of the vanquished envisions hope in the form of a guiding bird that will lead them across the unknown sea to a new home. Canoes are carved; provisions collected and so begins the voyage to find a new home. With only the stars and the promise of land to guide them, they sail north. But life on the sea is not easy. Fish must be caught for food and rain collected for water. Through windless doldrums and horrific storms, they persevere to find their new home, Hawaii.
This film tells the compelling human story of the first Polynesian migrations northward into the unforgiving expanse of the Pacific, and of the first landfall in the archipelago to become known as Hawaii. Every single visual image was created by one man, Herb Kawainui Kane. In addition to the hundreds of images used from Herb's art archives he contributed over a dozen new paintings just for the film. Culturally and historically accurate, Herb Kane is a noted Polynesian historian and a master of canoe design and sailing techniques.
Whenever possible, Polynesian performers were retained for the film; local actor Dennis Evangelista performed the voice-over narration. Anthony Natividad of Maui played Hawaiian nose flute, Maori flute, ukeke, ipu, and more. Larry Ursua and Danny Akaka Jr. consulted for Hawaiian translations, chants and contributed singing performances.
This "Special Edition" features: New Images, Enhanced Animations, and Remastered Soundtrack.
00:00 - Opening
02:29 - Battle
08:11 - Lost Battle
11:45 - Stocking the Ships
16:15 - Departure
20:00 - The Open Sea
23:19 - Doldrums
25:32 - A New Sea
32:15 - Building the Ships
36:42 - A New Star
41:15 - Storm
44:03 - Survivors
51:20 - A New Island
55:18 - Landing
59:28 - Credits