Nomads of the Wind

Before producer Mark Jacobs was allowed to film sacred Hawaiian events for this fourth programme about man and nature in the South Seas, Distant Horizons, he had to spend weeks being interviewed by key Hawaiian craftsmen, orators, dancers and writers. "Only at the conclusion of all these meetings were we allowed to film treasured aspects of Hawaiian culture," he says. Although only eight per cent of the population of Hawaii is now descended from the Polynesians who first migrated to the islands, the programme uncovers the rich and varied culture and natural history that once existed there. It also follows the final great migration of the Polynesians - to New Zealand, where they became the ancient Maori.