Kira Salusalu

Fijian navigator reviving traditional Pacific voyaging without modern instruments

Kira Salusalu (1948-2017) masterminded the revival of traditional Fijian navigation using stars, waves, and wildlife – techniques nearly erased by colonial history. Leading the Uto ni Yalo voyage (2011), he sailed 4,800 km from Fiji to Tokelau relying solely on ancestral kavei-lali navigation methods.

His crew mapped oceanic 'motorways' by observing bird flight patterns and cloud formations. This proved indigenous navigators could cross oceans without GPS – a cultural reclamation celebrated in the documentary Blue Continent. Salusalu later trained 200+ youth through the Pacific Voyagers Network, blending tradition with climate science.

By proving ancient techniques' viability, he challenged Eurocentric views of exploration history. The 2017 UN Climate Conference featured his voyages as symbols of sustainable sea stewardship. His legacy sails on through Fiji's first traditional navigation school.