Hawaiian Canoe

The Hawaiian canoe, also known as “wa’a” in Hawaiian, is an outrigger canoe. It is a type of canoe with a lateral support float (the “ama”) attached to one side of the main hull, which provides stability in open water. These canoes were traditionally used for fishing, exploration, and inter-island travel by ancient Polynesians. In modern times, they are also used for recreational paddling and canoe surfing.

Nowadays popularized by the Moana Disney movie, the Polynesian outrigger canoe is known in French Polynesia under its maohi name : “va’a”. Cunningly intended for long travels, it is made of a beam connected to the hull thanks to two wooden arms, which contribute to provide steadiness. Everything is tied up with resistant and flexible rubber. In order to move forward, the oarsman is equipped with a slightly curved wooden paddle.

Outstanding navigators, Polynesian people conceived their outrigger canoes in order to cover their basic needs, being able to fish at any time but first and foremost to seek after new islands to settle in. When European people arrived in the 1760s, the huge outrigger canoes, which used to operate a lot, became scarce. The Maohi chose to only keep the smallest canoes to go fishing and race during competitions.