Ke Kā o Makaliʻi

The Starry Canoe

In the dark, beautiful night sky, there is a special group of stars called Ke Kā o Makaliʻi. This name means "The Canoe-Bailer of Makaliʻi." It looks like five bright stars curved together, just like a tool used to scoop water from a canoe.

These stars rise in the east, looking like a cup, and later they set in the west. Ke Kā o Makaliʻi is close friends with another famous group of stars called Orion, but it uses its own special stars, not any from Orion.

The five stars in Ke Kā o Makaliʻi have their own beautiful names, too. They are Capella, called Hoku-lei or "Star-Wreath"; Beta Aurigae, named Na Mahoe or "The Twins"; Castor, called Nana-mua; Pollux, called Nana-hope; Procyon, known as Puana; and Sirius, called ‘A‘a.

Long ago, people in Hawaii watched these stars very carefully. They helped people know when to plant food and when the seasons would change. Today, we can learn about Ke Kā o Makaliʻi and remember how clever our ancestors were in watching the night sky.