Hoe: The Hawaiian Paddle
Traditional Hawaiian paddles, or hoe, varied in shape and dimensions within a recognizable range of traditional designs. The shaft was generally straight and rounded or slightly oval in cross-section, while the blade was typically broad and ovate (egg-shaped).
Like the traditional Hawaiian canoe, the paddle was generally free of decorative ornamentation.
Steering paddles were generally larger and longer than ordinary paddling paddles, providing the steersman with greater leverage and control. Traditional Hawaiian steering paddles were frequently given names. Beyond its practical function, the steering paddle was also a symbol of authority, reflecting the responsibilities of the steersman in guiding the canoe and its crew.
The traditional Hawaiian paddle has been described as being more oval in shape than paddles from the southern islands, having broader blades, and lacking any ornamentation.
While paddles made of Kāwʻū, Hau, and Ulu were used, the more favored wood for making paddles was the Koa. Of the three density types of Koa, the Laumaiʻa variety was the favored. Laumaiʻa was less dense and lighter in weight and color than the Laukani variety. The third variety ʻiʻo ʻōhiʻa was never used due to its twisty nature and weight. It was very dark in color.
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Traditional Hawaiian paddles underwent relatively little change in their basic design from the time of early Western contact through the first half of the twentieth century.
With the expansion of organized outrigger canoe racing following World War II, paddle makers began experimenting with different blade shapes, dimensions, and weights.
Racing paddles gradually became lighter, and many were made with smaller blade surfaces.
The traditional Hawaiian paddle generally had a broad, ovate blade, with its greatest width closer to the shaft and a narrower, rounded or pointed tip. As racing paddle designs evolved, more symmetrical elliptical shapes were introduced, with the widest portion of the blade nearer its center.
By the middle of the twentieth century, improvements in waterproof industrial adhesives made it practical to construct paddles from two or more pieces of wood joined together. Paddle makers were no longer limited to carving each paddle from a single piece of lumber.
During the mid-1950s, paddle makers began producing smaller, lighter paddles to accommodate women and junior paddlers. Among the emerging designs was a more symmetrical, elliptical blade with its widest point near the center. These paddles generally had smaller blade areas and weighed less than the earlier traditional designs.
For approximately two decades, elliptical and slightly egg- or pear-shaped blades became widely recognized as the standard Hawaiian racing paddle design.
Beginning in the mid-1970s, Hawaiian paddlers were introduced to the Tahitian teardrop-shaped paddle, which gradually influenced and, in some cases, replaced the Hawaiian paddle designs of the preceding decades.
Another significant development occurred in 1978, when a California racing crew known as Blazing Paddles won the Molokaʻi-to-Oʻahu canoe race. The crew brought paddling techniques and equipment influenced by competitive Olympic-style and marathon canoe racing.
Their paddles featured shafts angled slightly toward the blade and T-shaped hand grips. The blades were relatively narrow and differed considerably from the broader Hawaiian and Tahitian paddle designs.
The success of these paddlers encouraged further experimentation with paddle shapes, shaft angles, and hand grips, contributing to the continuing evolution of the modern outrigger canoe racing paddle.
Hoeana: the process of paddling
Although early Western explorers observed Hawaiian canoes equipped with sails, paddling appears to have been the primary means of propulsion for much everyday coastal travel.
Traditional Hawaiian paddling included several different styles, each suited to particular ocean conditions, the purpose of the voyage, and the number of paddlers aboard.
When a larger number of paddlers occupied a canoe of a given length, the seats were positioned closer together, requiring shorter paddling strokes.
In 1843, R. W. Andrews observed Hawaiian paddlers maintaining a rate of approximately 16 strokes per minute during a canoe voyage from Lahaina, Maui, to Kaluaʻaha, Molokaʻi. Drawing upon historical accounts, Tommy Holmes estimated that traditional Hawaiian paddlers generally maintained a more moderate pace of approximately 15 to 30 strokes per minute during extended voyages, with occasional faster rates.
One style of Hawaiian paddling was characterized by a moderate forward reach and a slight rotation of the upper body. After the blade entered the water, pulling power increased during the first few inches of the stroke. The stroke continued well behind the paddler, followed by a relaxed recovery in preparation for the next stroke.
Historical reference: Tommy Holmes, The Hawaiian Canoe, second edition (1993), p. 93, citing R. W. Andrews, “Canoeing.”
The style of paddling changed in the late 1980's with canoe clubs adopting the more rapid shorter stroke used by the Tahitians. It modified even more in the 1990's as competitive outrigger canoe racing became popular world wide and a canoe club from California won the Molokai Channel race using an Olympic style canoe paddling stroke. This stroke was shorter and more rapid then the Tahitians with a rate of over 60 strokes a minute.
Traditional Paddling Style
Video From the 1960's
The late John D Kaupiko, master paddler and one of those credited with revitalizing modern canoe paddling, knew and taught several styles of paddling using their Hawaiian names.
(The Hawaiian Canoe, T. Holmes)
Kahi malie: a long easy stroke.
Reach out in front is moderate, slight twist in the body, Follow through at the end
Of the stroke has the top hand On the paddle brought to mid chest level. Return is relaxed.
Power is emphasized after the First few inches of the pull, but power is relatively light and
quick.
Ma’oki’oki: a short choppy stroke.
Reach is just forward of the knees, pull back is quick with slight body twist, follow
Through is short just past the seat. Return is quick. Power is emphasized almost at
the entry. Power is strong and applied abruptly just after entry.
‘Opelu: a long power stroke.
Reach is far out in front with pronounced twist in body. There is a
Strong forward push on the top hand as pulling power is applied with the lower hand.
There is a strong Twist of the body and push back on forward foot as paddle is Pulled
back. Follow through has top had come down to stomach, return is quick but long.
Power is emphasized after a few inches of the initial pull with graduated increase (as
opposed to abrupt application of power) in power as pull comes back with maximum
pull between knee and back of seat.