When white light from the sun strikes the oceans surface, wavelengths of color get scattered.

Long red, orange, yellow, and green wavelengths are absorbed. Shorter wavelength blues and violets remain and it is these colors we associate with the tropics.

While researching the environmental factors that produce these colors, I discovered Polynesian maritime culture.

For centuries Polynesian mariners sailed outriggers on the open ocean hundreds of miles using only stars, waves, birds, fish, clouds, even the taste of the water, to navigate between islands.

Navigation cues were memorized as chants, songs and dances.

Navigators enjoyed higher rank than tribal chiefs because the population depended almost entirely on sea faring and fishing to survive.