by Tim Wood
Last updated: 1:35 PM ET, Thu December 15, 2016
As if a stay at a luxury five-star resort on the Maui oceanfront is not enough of a majestic experience, Ritz-Carlton Kapalua has just upped the ante for peace and tranquility.
The luxury property has begun offering "Na Hoku Mo'olelo," the Story of the Stars Experience.
The program is offered as part of the on-property Jean-Michel Cousteau Ambassadors of the Environment program. It will be led by apprentice navigator Kala Baybayan and will highlight the importance of celestial navigation by teaching guests the history of voyaging, how to use a star compass and how the Polynesian voyagers played a significant role in the migration from the South Islands to Hawaii. Baybayan guides guests on a journey through the history of the Hokule'a canoe. Named after the zenith star Arcturus - which passes directly overhead of the Hawaiian Islands and has been named "the star of gladness" - the Hokule'a canoe uses solely celestial navigation throughout its voyages around the globe.
Ritz-Carlton has been a leader in bridging the cultural divide between hoteliers and the natives of Maui, maintaining the sacred lands of the Honokahua Preservations Site that is adjacent to the oceanfront property while creating cultural immersion programs that bring guests up close and personal to the rich Hawaiian history on site while creating one-of-a-kind learning opportunities.
"We're honored to be with working with Apprentice Navigator, Kala Baybayan for this unique new offering at the resort," says Clifford Nae'ole, Cultural Advisor at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. "We take pride in educating and captivating our guests through distinct cultural experiences and are thrilled to be adding this exciting new program to the list."
[READMORE]READ MORE: TravelPulse Radio Gets Cultural With Ritz-Carlton Kapalua's Clifford Naeole [/READMORE]
I had the pleasure of touring the site with Nae'ole, the first Cultural Advisor of the Hawaiian Islands and the first for the Ritz-Carlton brand who has been with the resort since its opening in 1992. He is one of the most engaging and authentic people I've met in the travel industry. To hear him explain the important role the land plays in Hawaiian culture, you gain an inside knowledge of the traditions that help grow the native culture while inviting in tourists for a truly memorable experience.
Like Nae'ole, Baybayan is a Maui native and an educator with Hui o Wa'a Kaulua, Maui's Voyaging Society. She learned the intricacies of sailing and navigation from her father from an early age and grew up sharing voyaging canoes with her siblings.
Open to both resort guests and the local community, 'Story of the Stars' will take place every Thursday evening from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the Beach House Lawn underneath the stars.
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