# A 600-year voyage opens Hawai'i's film festival

> HIFF46 opens with the world premiere of a Hawai'i made documentary about the sailor who navigated to Tahiti with no instruments.
- Title: A 600-year voyage opens Hawai'i's film festival · Variety
- Summary: HIFF46 opens with the world premiere of a Hawai'i made documentary about the sailor who navigated to Tahiti with no instruments. Nainoa Thompson revived…
- Keywords: film festivals, documentary, hawaii, wayfinding, premieres, entertainment, culture, 600-year, voyage, opens, Hawai'i's, film
- Source: Variety — https://variety.com/2026/film/festivals/hawaii-film-festival-navigator-opening-night-drifter-centerpiece-1236860970
- Author: Naman Ramachandran
- Published: 2026-09-15T13:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: film festivals, documentary, hawaii, wayfinding, premieres, entertainment, culture
## HIFF46 opens with a premiere
The Hawai'i International Film Festival launches its 46th edition with the world premiere of "The Navigator," directed by Jordan Manley. "Drifter" takes the centerpiece slot.
## A film made in Hawai'i
"The Navigator" is a documentary shot in the islands, built around Nainoa Thompson, the sailor at the center of the modern Polynesian voyaging revival.
## First in 600 years
Nearly half a century ago, Thompson became the first Native Hawaiian in six centuries to sail from Hawai'i to Tahiti without a compass, a chart, or any modern instrument.

> the first Native Hawaiian in 600 years to sail from Hawai'i to Tahiti using no modern instruments
## 2,400 miles back
The film follows Thompson on the return voyage, a 2,400-mile crossing read from stars, swells, and birds rather than screens.
## Teaching the next crew
He sails with a new generation of trainee wayfinders, so the knowledge lands in younger hands instead of staying with one legendary navigator.
## Wisdom from Mau Piailug
The voyage draws on what master navigator Mau Piailug taught Thompson, a line of knowledge that nearly disappeared before he passed it on.

> drawing on wisdom instilled by master navigator Mau Piailug
## Back at the Hawai'i Theatre
The screening is HIFF's first opening night at the historic Hawai'i Theatre Center since the pandemic began, putting the festival back in its old house.
## Key takeaway

Nainoa Thompson revived Polynesian wayfinding, and the film follows him passing it to the next crew on a 2,400-mile voyage.