Heiheionakeiki

Stars in the Sky

Heiheionakeiki is a special group of stars that people in Polynesia used long ago. These stars helped sailors find their way across big oceans. They are part of a bigger star pattern called Orion that many people know.

The stars in Heiheionakeiki are very bright. Their names are Rigel, Betelgeuse, Alnilam, Alnitak, Mintaka, Bellatrix, and Saiph. Long ago, clever sailors watched these stars to travel safely to faraway places like Tahiti.

Today, people still remember Heiheionakeiki. The airline Hawaiian Airlines names some of its airplanes after important stars and star groups. One airplane is called Heiheionakeiki, keeping the old stories alive while people fly around the world.