Moʻo

The Mo'o are planks attached to the upper edge of the Ka'ele. (canoe hull)  This gunwale increases the freeboard of the canoe and also protects the upper edge of the Ka'ele (called Niau) of the canoe from daily wear and tear.  The mo'o was seldom made out of Koa (the wood for constructing the hull) but made of other woods such as Ahakea, Kāwaʻu and ulu. The manner in which the moʻo was attached to the Kaʻele is unique to Hawaiʻi.

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Although the concept of a protective, replaceable gunwale is found elsewhere, the Hawaiian approach stands out for its innovation. The use of removable moʻo to absorb the brunt of daily wear is a testament to the ingenuity and practicality of traditional Hawaiian canoe design.