For example, Ahu Vai Mata and Maikati Te Moa used in conjunction with the Volcano Terevaka provides a direct bearing to the islands of Hawai’i. Similarly, Maiati Te Moa and Te Peu provide direction to New Zealand while Tara Kai Ua and Nau Nau give a bearing to Isla Del Sol in Lake Titicaca, South America and A Tanga paired with Papa Tekena give route to Tikal on the Yucatan Peninsula in Central America. Using this same technique, the coastal Ahu can be used individually, with other lesser prominent land features, hillside Ahu sites or even with each other depending on the desired destination.
Ancient Pacific wayfarers as well as the indigenous people
of South America possessed a keen knowledge of their environment and the skies
above which is made obvious by the various structures which were constructed
long before the European explorers arrived.
Considering the slave raids which quickly transpired following the
arrival of these newcomers, it should be no mystery of why the native
inhabitants encountered had little or no knowledge to share with this strange
new people with regards to the navigational skills and aptitude. Nonetheless,
there were European accounts of encounters at sea with smaller swifter sailing
vessels but never any direct contact or communication. Most of that which is
already understood about this region is not in question but there are many
reasons to concede and too much evidence to deny that Polynesia and the
Americas has been a melting pot of cultures from every direction for thousands
of years.
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