Hawaiian canoe | Hawaii | He Make'e Wa'a

WHAT MAKES A CANOE, HAWAIIAN?

Traditional construction and cultural practices associated with the Hawaiian canoe are grounded in age old beliefs shaped by the delicately balanced "life cycle" of an island environment.

ASPECTS OF THE HAWAIIAN WORLD VIEW

Evolving in an environment consisting of vast expanses of ocean and very limited dry land, the inhabitants of the Pacific Islands developed a world view significantly different from those formulated by peoples living on the large continental land masses.

The Ocean was not considered a threat or obstacle that had to be challenged and conquered . The ocean was viewed as the breast of their ancestral god Kanaloa. It was respected and viewed as the source of freedom and sustenance.

Land, being limited in size was not considered something that could be possessed or disposed of by man. It was valued for the protection and resources it provided. Pacific islands tend to be limited in natural resources so conservation of resources became a matter of survival.

In the Polynesian social system the first born ( Hiapo) had special privileges and status along with responsibilities to guide and take care of younger siblings (Poki'i). The Poki'i, in return for the protection afforded by the Hiapo, served and attended to the needs of the Hiapo. In the Hawaiian world view man was the Poki'i (younger sibling) to the taro. The taro and nature in general were the Hiapo for man.

Herb Kawainui Kane

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The Hawaiian Culture and the Hawaiian Canoe have evolved over time, adjusting to changing environmental, social and political conditions.

The first settlers of the Hawaiian Islands,(arriving around 300-400 AD) found plants and animals that exist no where else in the world.
These new natural resources would allow these settlers to develop canoe construction techniques and practices that were different from those used in their original homeland.
Painting by Herb Kawainui Kane

Around the 1300's the two way voyaging between Hawaii and the South Pacific stopped. The design of the Hawaiian canoe evolved to specifically deal with the Hawaiian waters. In this shift the Hawaiian canoe became unique.

When Captain Cook arrived In Kealakekua Bay in 1779, he was greeted by more than 1,000 single and double canoes. By the 1900's,due to diseases and political turmoil, the Hawaiian population had decreased from an estimate of 300,000 people to less than 60,000. The Hawaiian canoe almost disappeared.

Throughout the early 1900's the Hawaiian Canoe, its history and cultural connections were preserved by subsistence fisherman.

Beginning in the 1950's interest in the Hawaiian canoe for Canoe racing increased. This interest ballooned in the 1970's and by the 1990's the quest for speed had dramatically changed the shape, style and operation of these modern canoes. Ignored and sometimes forgotten were many of the traditional practices associated with the Hawaiian canoe.

EVOLUTION OF THE HAWAIIAN CANOE

Herb Kawainui Kane

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The introduction of new economic drivers to the islands after western contact caused a decline in the native natural resources used to construct the canoe. The shift to western materials in canoe construction further eroded traditional construction techniques and operational practices.

OTHER FORCES AFFECTING THE HAWAIIAN CANOE

The introduction of goats, sheep and cattle in the early 1800's and the clear cut harvesting of sandal wood in the mid 1800 devastated the native Hawaiian Forest. The traditional materials used to construct the Hawaiian canoe were greatly depleted.

The introduction of large scale commercial agriculture further decimated the Hawaiian forest. It also shifted the economy of Hawaii to a money based system which in turn greatly reduced the importance of the traditional canoe.

Those that still clung to the traditional practices were forced to look for alternative materials to construct their canoes.

The shift to modern Western construction materials further decreased the importance and relevance of the traditional skills and practices used in canoe construction.

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With recreational canoe racing becoming the focused use for the outrigger Canoe, the construction and operational practices of the modern canoe are no longer based on sustaining life but designed to achieve victory in athletic events. This has further eroded the traditional cultural practices associated with the Hawaiian Canoe.

QUEST FOR SPEED

The commercialization of paddling and the emphasis on speed have brought change, not only in the shape of the modern outrigger canoe, but also in the mental attitude and "world view" of those who engage in "OC" sports.

Maximum speed has replaced the traditional goal of conserving energy.

Hull shape and paddle shape have evolved to meet recreation and competition needs rather than meeting survival requirements.

Marketing and fashion have become a driving force in modern canoe design overshadowing tradition and functionality.

The modern canoe paddler has become removed from the actual process of canoe manufacturing, maintenance and repair. Having these functions delegated to Professionals has made the paddler of today a "consumer" of goods and services rather than the self reliant island dweller.

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Within recent years there has been an explosion of innovation in canoe design and construction. Much like surfing, outrigger canoe paddling has become less connected to its Hawaiian roots. So the question arises, how much innovation and “modernization” can occur before a “canoe” is no longer "traditional" or....“Hawaiian” ?

SO WHAT MAKES A CANOE HAWAIIAN?

While shape will always play a significant role in defining the "Hawaiian Canoe", what might be more significant is the mental attitude of the people that paddle and sail these water craft.

If the Hawaiian canoe is to remain Hawaiian, its history, traditional cultural values and operational practices must be present in the minds, hearts and hands of those that carry on the Hawaiian Canoe tradition. Without these traditional elements, the "Hawaiian" canoe becomes something else.

WHAT MAKES A CANOE, HAWAIIAN?

ASPECTS OF THE HAWAIIAN WORLD VIEW

Herb Kawainui Kane

Click on photo for more info

The Hawaiian Culture and the Hawaiian Canoe have evolved over time, adjusting to changing environmental, social and political conditions.

EVOLUTION OF THE HAWAIIAN CANOE

Herb Kawainui Kane

Herb Kawainui Kane

Click on photo for more info

OTHER FORCES AFFECTING THE HAWAIIAN CANOE

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QUEST FOR SPEED

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SO WHAT MAKES A CANOE HAWAIIAN?

Sam Ka'ai

Keeping It Traditional