January 14 2016 Mtg - Polynesian Navigation, Ken Ayre

Posted by Editor: FDBobko 
 
The FOGHORN 
ROTARY CLUB OF HALF MOON BAY
Article by  Susan Kealey 
​Photos by  EJ Dieterle 
 
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Program: Polynesian Navigation, Ken Ayre
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Ken is an Anthropologist and was a professor at Stanford University. The time frame we will be studying would be when Polynesians were Stone Age farmers. The area covered would be Polynesia, New Zealand , Hawaii and Australia.
An adz and some coconut rope were the tools of the day and boats were catamaran style, low to the water and tied together with rope. Cultivated plants & animals were included on voyages.  Things like taro, coconut, breadfruit, yams, banana, sugarcane, mulberry, bamboo, dogs, chickens, pigs, fish--fresh & salt.  These farmers were also good fishermen. They were sailors long before they were farmers.okulea.com/hokulea.com 
 
The Trade Winds usually blow east; in El Niño they shift to the west. You can tell atolls or islands by clouds, especially high islands. Bird flight paths are also an indicator of where land is. The difference between European navigation and Polynesian is that Polynesian navigation is based on specific locations and celestial navigation. The Polynesians in that era also took longer voyages.
In days of yore, sailors set their navigational timepieces in Greenwich, England by watching a ball at high noon, Greenwich Mean Time. That evidently was the inspiration for the New Years Eve tradition in Times Square. 
They have been able to reconstruct, through mitochondrial DNA, where people came from. Some of the people in Polynesian area were white.  Polynesians may have made their way to South America. Language clues led to this as well as sweet potatoes. 1000 AD.
Polynesians had no written record, the relied on oral traditions and songs.  They actually used songs as navigational tools.
Here are some resources: 
January 14, 2016 Meeting Recap
Article by   Dwight Wilson
​Photos by   EJ Dieterle
 
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Dave Andrews asked Beau Donegan to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.  Shana 'Rusty' Reilly-Pond gave the inspirational though by reminding us it was Martin Luther King holiday.  She read 3 of his most common quotes:  1) Life’s most persistent and urgent question, “What are you doing for others;  2) The time is always right to do what is right;  and 3) Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.    
 
Guests
Joe Brennan introduced Dale Evenari who produced a video on Hawaii. Susan Kealey introduced her spouse, Dennis. Dave Dickson introduced Mary Rogren who soon will be a new member of the club and his spouse, Marla.Beau Donegan introduced Bethany Lindsay who wants to start a local Toastmaster group on the Coastside.
 
Happy/Crappy News 
Dave Dickson has announced he is retiring from the Water District in July.
Rosi Fontana announced her mentee at the high school missed his appointment with her, but it was because he has enrolled in a Geometry class which is remarkable progress for this student.
Andrew Boyd-Goodrich announced this is the second anniversary of his mother’s death.
Paul Wrubel announced that he gave his second parent/high student presentation on college preparation and he has been asked if he would present a similar program for Spanish speaking parents and their students.
    
 
Announcements
 
Dave Andrews announced that Maya Monroe has moved out the area and will be  leaving the club; so no longer will be our treasurer.  Ed Daniels has agreed to assume these duties.
Dianne Bobko sent everyone an email yesterday reminding us all that nominations and the vetting process for Service Above Self is due by January 30th.  For those nominations, please do a follow up discussion with the person you are proposing including the form that is on our website.
Dianne Bobko announced that raffle tickets are available and they are $20 a piece or 6 for $100.  Prizes are $500/$350/$150 for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd draw.
Andrew Boyd-Goodrich asked everyone to think about auction items and he is planting the seed as we need them in advance of the event.
Liz Schuck sent the sign up sheet for the event.  She also announced the Belmont club has a Valentine Ball which is going for $125.
Joe Brennan announced the Rotary Board has approved another Spaghetti feed to support polio which will happen sometime in February.
Warren Barmore stated student applications for Ryili Conference is due by the end of the month which will be held in Scotts Valley.  Rotarians can participate as volunteers and should let Warren know if they are interested
Dan Miller reminded the membership that the monthly clean up at Carter Park is on Saturday, January 23rd.  The Knick of Time Foundation is doing another student health screening in Atherton on January 24th if anyone is interested in volunteering.
 
Dave’s Quiz of the Week – Today’s theme is on celestial travel.  Questions today have to do with the constellations and ocean travel. 
1)What is the name of the north star?  ------- Polaris
2)How do you find the north star? ------ Line up pointer stars on the big dipper.  Polaris is 5 times the distance between the pointer stars.
3)What instruments do you use to determine your location using celestial navigation? ------- a) Sextant for latitude;   b) Chronometer for longitude.
4)How may stars are charted and used for navigation?  ------- 57 and the bonus question was name one.
5)What is the ecliptic? ------- Path of the sun across the celestial sphere.
6)What constellation is known as the seven sisters? ------ Pleiades
7)What constellation is known as the hunter? ----- Orion and the bonus question is name a star in Orion.
8)Who follows Orion in the heavens and which constellation is he hunting? ----- a) Canis Major;  and b) Taur
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The MARBLE DRAW - Green Againsadlaugh
 
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