Six navigators inducted as Pwo Navigators in Hawaiʻi

Six captains and navigators were recently inducted into the prestigious Pwo Navigator leadership position during a sacred ceremony held in Niu Valley, Oʻahu, on July 30, 2026. The ceremony was conducted by Pwo Navigators from Satawal, Micronesia, on behalf of the Weriyaeng School of Navigation.

Among the six new inductees, five are Native Hawaiian. Notably, four of the inductees are the first women in Hawaiʻi to earn this sacred title and responsibility. The group includes Maui waterman Archie Kalepa and educator Pōmai Bertelmann.

Pwo is one of the highest honors from the Weriyaeng School of Navigation, representing a lifelong commitment to leadership, stewardship, and traditional voyaging rather than just navigational skill. The induction honors the lineage of the late Master Navigator Mau Piailug, whose teachings revived traditional navigation in Polynesia. This event marked the first time the Pwo ritual was conducted in Hawaiʻi.