Grand Master Navigator Pius Mau Piailug was born on the tiny Carolinian Island of Satawal, in the western Micronesia. Satawal is a place where traditional Carolinian culture has remained virtually intact for over 1200 some years. Mau Piailug as a young child, was taught traditional navigation and other natural arts by his grandfather.

Mau Piailug first went to Hawaii 33 years ago. He went to Hawaii to share with the people of Polynesia the ancient arts of non-instrument navigation, seafaring, way-finding, and canoe building. These arts and skills had been set aside, and not practiced by the people of Polynesia for over 200 years. Mau's unselfish and generous sharing of these ancient arts and skills made possible the building of Hokule'a, the first voyaging canoe built in Hawaii in many generations. The ancient knowledge shared by Mau Piailug paved the way for Hokule'a's first epic voyage to Tahiti. Mau, more than any one individual, set the stage for the rebirth of Hawaiian culture and arts enjayed by all the people of Hawaii today.

Over the years Mau Piailug has traveled to all parts of the Pacific region, and has shared his skills and knowledge with anyone willing to listen and learn. On each of his voyages Mau has spoken to the people of the islands and has symbolically placed a stick between all the peoples of the Pacific. It is Mau's hope that this stick will serve as a bridge between cultures, setting the stage for multiple cultural learning, sharing and growing. Pius Mau Piailug's message has always been a simple one; we are all much more alike than we are different. By exploring and sharing our cultural roots we can create a cultural future united in the belief that in our hearts we are all one people.

Sesario and the crew