Images related to the history and construction of Hokule’a and its subsequent voyages.
Hokule’a has undergone many small modifications over the years, most visibly to its splash guard, beam width, mast steps, and the size and shape of its two sails.
Of all the items I have collected over the years related to Hokule'a and its voyages, none is as historically significant as the "Proposal for an Experimental Voyage Between Hawaii and Tahiti," written in 1974. I will share a few pages from this document.
The proposal outlines the dream of several individuals:
- Herb Kawainui Kane
- Ben Finney
- Tommy Holmes
- August Yee
- Larry Burkhalter
- Kala Kukea
Their vision was to build a replica of an ancient Polynesian voyaging canoe and conduct a round-trip voyage between Hawaii and Tahiti during the U.S. Bicentennial Year in 1976.
These men could not have envisioned that their canoe would one day circumnavigate the globe and become an object of admiration for people around the world. They could not have foreseen that Hokule'a would be at the root of a Hawaiian, Polynesian, and even Micronesian cultural renaissance. No, they could not have imagined that in 2025 there would be a 50-year celebration of Hokule'a's journey.
Hokule'a has become a symbol of Polynesian culture and a promoter of how to care for our oceans and our planet.
Page 1 of the Proposal in which the voyage to Tahiti and back to Hawaii is charted.
Introduction - Historical and Cultural Background , Pag2 of 30
1974, The Year of the Canoe. Page 3 of 30
1975, The Year of the men: testing and training. Page 4 of 30
1976, The Year of the Voyage. Page 5 of 30
Attachments . Page 6 of 30
Budget and Funds Source, page 7 of 30
Monetary contributions, page 8 of 30
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polynesian_Triangle
Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of more than 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are called Polynesians. They have many things in common, including linguistic relations, cultural practices, and traditional beliefs. In centuries past, they had a strong shared tradition of sailing and using stars to navigate.
Throughout Polynesia and Oceania in general, canoes have been, and in some cases still are, a primary means of transportation between islands. They also serve as an essential method for fishing along the shores. Some canoes were specifically designed to accommodate a large number of warriors for the purpose of waging war and conquering other islands. The size and construction of canoes were greatly influenced by the materials available on each particular island. For example, Hawaii was able to build large voyaging or war canoes using the renowned Koa tree. Meanwhile, the Māori in New Zealand constructed war canoes, known as "Waka Taua," that could be up to 130 feet long, utilizing the massive Kauri or Totara trees. While most canoes, regardless of size, were dugouts, some, particularly in Samoa , were built using plank construction.
Over the last 30 years, I have collected thousands of pictures of Polynesian canoes, including full-size examples, models, and representations in prints and paintings, both ancient and contemporary. It will be a labor of love to catalog the majority of these images. However, I plan to share the most interesting ones gradually and organize them by island at a later stage.
A beautiful model canoe
This model of an outrigger canoe, fitted with a European sprit sail, resembles closely that of Hawaiian fishing canoe, and this is the reason I included this model into the Category of Polynesian canoes. The model is one from the Bonin Islands , also known as the Ogasawara Islands.. They have a history of using outrigger canoes, brought to the islands by early Hawaiian settlers in 1830. The outrigger canoes used in the Bonin Islands were based on the Hawaiian design, reflecting the cultural exchange between the early settlers and the indigenous population.
It strikes me that this part of Hawaiian history has never been documented locally.
Hawaiian double-hull canoe model in the Musee de la Marine, Paris, made in France under supervision of Admiral F.E. Paris.
Who was Admiral Paris ?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois-Edmond_P%C3%A2ris
This is an early 20th-century photograph. Notice that the hulls of the canoes are darker than the tops. This difference in color may be due to the hulls being carved from Koa wood, while the gunnels and tops are made from a lighter-colored wood, such as Ahakea.
A photo dating back to the beginning of the 20th century showing a native paddling along the shore.
Another picture issued as a post card towards 1915 showing a canoe fitted with a sprit sail.
The location seems to be near the Hawaiian Outrigger canoe club.
An early 20th century colored postcard showing a Hawaiian using a fishing pole.
Small Hawaiian canoe model
A picture daring back towards 1915 showing a Hawaiian outrigger canoe fitted with a sprit sail. The Royal Hawaiian Hotel in the distance
1880's Hawaiians in outrigger canoes Waipi'o Valley, Maui
1880's Hawaiians in Outrigger Boats Waipi'o Valley Maui
1880's Hawaiians in Outrigger Boats Waipi'o Valley Maui.
Small , old canoe model. Iakos and ama look to be on the wrong side.
Outrigger canoe
Hawaiian double hull sailing canoe
Hawaiian fishing canoe with striped sail I built in 2008 for the Kahala Hotel & Resort.
Hawaiian double-hull canoe with crab claw sail
This is an early post card showing a canoe near the Outrigger Club.
Mid 1920 photo of a fairly long fishing canoe
Beautiful model canoe
Hawaiian model canoe
I created this model many years ago for a customer who wanted to use it as a decoration on his cruising boat.
Scale model of Hokule’a with striped sails I built years ago to adorn the saloon of a yacht moored in Monaco.
Hawaiian fishing canoe
This is an 18 inch long scale model of Hokule’a with striped sails I built 8 years ago for the Four Seasons Hotel Resort in Lana’i, Hawaii.
Hawaiian fishing canoe (Magic lantern slide)
A beautiful old postcard showing canoes along the Waiakea river, Hilo, Hawaii.
Those 2 canoes were auctioned off in Waikiki some years ago .
A Va’a alo canoe model
Hawaiian outrigger canoe
18 inch Opelu canoe by Francis Pimmel
18 inch Opelu canoe with fishing spears by Francis Pimmel
Showing a 12 inch long Hawaiian Fishing canoe model by F.P.
A 12 inch long scale model of Hokule’a in its showcase. Built by F.P.
A canoe in his “auha” or canoe shelter.
Auctioned canoes in Honolulu.
Visit the “SHOP”for more information.
Canoes of the Sandwich Islands, the rowers masked. A double canoe with an upright lateen sail holding nine rowers wearing gourd helmets, and one helmeted figure holding a carved idol. The shoreline in the background represents the north-west side of Kealakekua Bay. A drawing made by John Webber in the country visited by Captain James Cook in his first voyage 1768-1771.
An early postcard showing paddlers along the Honolulu Haebor.
King Kamehameha's canoe, from a drawing by Admiral Paris.
Native Hawaiian pushing his canoe onto the shore. Postcard ca 1910
The Hawai’iloa voyaging canoe. In 1995, Hawaiʻiloa sailed her maiden voyage to Tahiti, Raʻiatea, and Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas Islands in company with Hōkūleʻa and a third canoe from Hawaiʻi called Makaliʻi together with two canoes from Rarotonga: Te ʻAu Tonga and Takitumu, and the canoe Te ʻAurere, from New Zealand.
Native Hawaiian coming to shore. Early 20th C. post card
Hawaiian outrigger with sprit sail. Earl 20th C. post card
The Namahoe canoe in Kaui. Dreamstime photo.
Flying the ama. Early 20th C. photo.
The Mo’olele or the Flying Lizard. I built this model some years ago using my own set of line drawings.
https://kawaiola.news/moomeheu/moolelo/remembering-moolele-o-lahaina/
The refuge of birth
The MO'OKIHA O PI’ILANI or The Secret of Pi’ilani
Mo‘okiha O Pi‘ilani is a 62′ wa‘a kaulua, a large, double-hull transoceanic voyaging canoe that joins the likes of the Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia. It was launched on July 11, 2014 at Mala Wharf, Lahaina after 18 years of construction lead by Hui O Wa‘a Kaulua with the help of thousands of volunteers from around the world. It was built to cross oceans manned by a crew that lives and studies the way of Polynesian voyaging, a unique form of navigation that depends not on sextants or compasses, but solely on elements of the spiritual and natural world. These included the sun, moon, stars, clouds, ocean currents, birds, and more. Often times, the navigator relied on a “gut feeling” that could only be acquired through years of experience on the canoe. MAUI OCEAN CENTER.
A rare magic lantern slide from the end of the 19 c showing Hawaiian paddlers pushing racing canoes onto shore.
The Hahalualele voyaging canoe or the Flying Manta Ray.
Samoan canoe model of the type va’a alo.
Iosepa voyaging canoe
Original 1920 photograph about Hawaiian canoes
MAKALI’I Voyaging canoe
https://www.nakalaiwaa.org
1920 Postcard
1920 Postcard
Showing the canoe below the halau, or hale wa’a. The halau is an open sided structure whereby the hale wa’a is a canoe house.
I have always regarded this canoe, with its elegant lines, as one of the most beautiful Polynesian fishing canoes. It is not a dugout; it is entirely built from planks. This picture was taken in 1914.
Over the last six years, I have created two large-scale models of this vessel.
Samoan VA’AALO or bonito fishing canoe from the Te-Papa Tongarewa collections, Museum of New Zealand. The Va’aalo were entirely plank built.
Visit THE GALLERY to peruse a scale model I built a few years ago for a collector.
This is a model of a Samoan canoe of the type “Soatau” I made many years ago. Notice the curved figurhead on which cowry shells were tied.
Several years ago, I created this very large scale model of the Samoan bonito canoe, entirely plank-built and crafted from Koa wood. This model is now displayed in the lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel Resort at Manale Bay, Lana'i, Hawaii.
Model of a four -boom sailing “soatau” I built many years ago. Notice the curved figurehead at the fore decking. Cowry shells used to be tied to the figurehead.
A Samoan canoe model in the Vatican Museums. The canoe has the shape of an “amatasi” type, whereby an amatasi is equipped with only 7 beams and not 8.
Nice little model
TE-PAPA COLLECTIONS. A va’a alo type Samoan fishing canoe model
Beautiful early 20c picture of a Samoan Va’aalo.
Model canoe replicating a type seen on the island of Tutuila.
A Samoan double hull voyaging canoe of the type “Alia”. It is the Samoan version of the Fiji Ndrua.
Te-Papa Collections. Samoan Va’aalo fishing canoe
Te-Papa Collections.
Small fishing canoe model of the type Va’a alo.
An early 20th Century postcard illustrating a Samoan Va’a alo fishing canoe.
Samoan canoe model
Small model
The Fautasi race . This is a traditional Samoan canoe race that takes place on Flag Day, a national holiday in American Samoan. The canoe is actually a derivative , in shape and form, from the early whaling boats. These boats were long and narrow, with sharp ends.
Va’a alo model canoe
A Va’aalo canoe model in the collection of Francis Pimmel
Samoan Fisherman sitting in his Va’aalo canoe
A Va’a alo canoe on the left and a Tokelau fishing canoe vaka on the right.
Beautifully preserved va’a alo canoe.
A Va’a alo at display in the Tradewinds Hotel, Tutuila.
Native Samoan aboard a Va’a alo fishing canoe
A beautifully preserved Va’ a alo in the Tradewinds Hotel, Tituila, Samoa
Model canoe from the island of Tutuila
Va’a alo canoe model.
Samoan Voyaging canoe by Francis Pimmel. Property of the Four Seasons Hotel Resort, Lana'i. On display in the lobby of the Resort.
Samoa. Model de pirogue paopao
Samoan canoe of the type Kalia. Double-hulled canoes were introduced to Samoa in the 19th century due to Tongan influence. They are identical in every way to Tongan double-hulled canoes, which were themselves modeled after the Fijian Dru canoe.
Samoan “Kalia” model
A “Va’aalo” canoe in the lobby of the Kitano Hotel, Apia
Samoan Paopao type model canoe.
Va’a alo model canoe
Gaualofa voyaging canoe
Samoan canoe model with 5 beams usually only to be seen on the “Iatolima” with sail.
Small Samoan va’a alo model canoe
Canoe in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. It has a front top very similar to those in Hawaii. Note the carvings along the hull.
Te-Papa Collections. Cook islands canoe
This is a small double-hull canoe from the island of Atiu. The small canoes of the Cook Islands share many similarities with Hawaiian fishing canoes, particularly in their shapes, which feature a raised stern and a lower bow piece, known as the manu, at the front. Most notably, the Cook Islanders used wood from the breadfruit tree to construct their canoes.
A double-hulled Cook Island canoe, of which each hull is a scaled-down reconstruction of the single life-size hull in possession of the Te Papa museum of New Zealand.
TePapa_Vaka-canoe Collection
A double hulled Cook Islands voyaging canoe model built by Francis Pimmel some years ago. Now in private collection.
Top view of the “Manihiki” canoe model at the Horniman Museum, London
Te Papa_Vaka-canoe-Auau Collection
Manihiki canoe, 4.68 meter long, 61 cm wide. Illustrated in Hadden and Hornell, “Canoes of Oceania”, p. 177-8, figs. 113 and 114.
This appears to be the canoe purchased by the British Museum in 1907. A letter from Capt. Percy Atkin (in the Department of Prehistory and Europe) dated 20 July 1907 says: “The canoe was made by the people of Rakahanga…it is built of the only three woods grown in the island.
This particular model of a Manihiki canoe from the Cook Islands is at the Horniman Museum, London. I know of 4 more models, one at the Scottish Royal Museum, one at the Peabody Museum, Salem , the third at Te Papa Colletions,, NZ., and finally the forth at the Vatican Museums which I have visited in May 2025.
Side view of the “Manihiki” canoe model
Front view of the Manihiki canoe model at the Horniman Museum, London.
Canoe model, Manihiki Atoll
Manihiki canoe model , Vatican Collection. Notice the cross in the sail. It is actually labelled as a Tahitian canoe in the Vatican Museum.
The Te-Au-O-Tonga, anchored in the Tahitian capital Papeete
Pukapuka sailing canoe by Herb Kawainui Kane
MAIRE NUI VOYAGING CANOE
In 1992, vaka building and voyaging experienced a resurgence in the Cook Islands when the country hosted the sixth Festival of Pacific Arts. Many southern group islands built vaka and sailed them to Rarotonga for the opening of the festival in October 1992.
The Mauke canoe, Maire Nui, is pictured above under sail in an atmospheric photograph by Ewan Smith.
On its 240km journey from Mauke it broke a boom, which halved the speed of travel to about 4 knots, but the boat arrived safely with a happy, although exhausted crew.
After the festival the Maire Nui languished in a tin shed at the old Kia Orana Food Factory until the government property corporation decided it needed the shed for other purposes. The vaka, by now somewhat dilapidated was moved outside.
The library and Mr T (Tetini Pekepo) wanted to build a lean-to in the library’s garden area and teach local youth to renovate and then sail the boat, but no funding was available. Maire Nui was relocated to Mr T’s property where he works on it when he has time.
Cook Islands Voyaging Society.
MARUMARU ATUA.
A crowd admiring a Maori war canoe. An illustration dated 1866
A picture dated 1880 showing a Maori war canoe of the type “Waka Pitau”.
New-Zealand
New-Zealand war canoe
Auckland Harbor Regatta by Frederick Rice Stack ( steel engraving)
New-Zealand Maori war canoe “waka-taua” by James-Cook, copper engraving 1774, but hand colored at a later date.
Māori war canoe (steel engraving)
An illustration by by Dumont D'Urville 1841, showing Maori canoes of the type “Waka Tete” or fishing canoes approaching a sailing ship.
A Maori war canoe by Parkinson Sydney.
1830 steel engraving of a Maori war canoe.
Historical lithograph titled “Vue du Cap Wangari, Nouvelle Zelande, depicting a view of Cape Wangatrei in the Bay of Islands, New-Zealand, with Maoris rowing a war canoe.
A “waka Taua” canoe model created by Volker Thomas. L: 230 cm, L: 90.6 inch
This is a “waka tete”, a Maori fishing canoe . The figurehead at the bow of the canoe is a rudely carved representation of a human face sticking out the tongue. The representation of a human body is sitting at the stern of the canoe.
Showing the ornamental carved stern of the canoe or “Tau-rapa”
Showing the ornamental bow of the canoe or “ Tau-ihu”
Pirogue de guerre Wangari, New-Zealand
Wangari war canoe model
A waka pitau from New Zealand. Te-papa Museum.
A beautiful 52 inch long model of a Maori war canoe built towards 1835.
In Māori tradition, Kupe, a legendary explorer, is said to have discovered New Zealand using his voyaging canoe, the Matawhaorua. Kupe, with his wife, family, and crew, traveled from their ancestral homeland of Hawaiki, using stars and ocean currents for navigation. The Matawhaorua was a double-hulled canoe, also known as a waka hourua. The above illustrated canoe is actually a Tahitian Tipairua.
It is strange to me why the Tapa Tongarewa Museum is using a Tipairua canoe as an example of how the Matawhaorua may have looked.
Maquette de bateau, Pirogue de la baie de Charaka, Nouvelle-Zélande
New Zealand war canoe by Dumont D'Urville 1841.
Jules Sébastien César Dumont d'Urville was a French explorer and naval officer who explored the south and western Pacific, Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica. As a botanist and cartographer, he gave his name to several seaweeds, plants and shrubs and to places such as d'Urville Island in New Zealand.
Large Maori war canoe
Natives carrying a canoe into the sea. A ship can be seen in the distance. B.L.
Kororareka as painted by Augustus Earle
Two Maoris standing by the elevated sternpost or “TAURAPA” of a WAKA TAUA in 1842.. Artist/creator: Sinclair, Alexander; Clarke, Cuthbert; Merrett, J. British Library
Haunui voyaging canoe
Traditional Maori waka Haunui, double-hulled canoe in the Te-Papa Tongarewa Museum, Wellington, New-Zealand. Illustration by Pierre André Leclercq.
The Waka hourua “Te Aurere Iti” is a voyaging canoe model replicating the “TeAurere”which sailed to Rarotonga in 1992 and to Tahiti and Hawaii in 1995. The canoe was moored at Pier 41 in 1995. It is important to mention Sir Hector Busby when it is about Te Aurere,
New Zealand War Canoe. Waka Taua, Maori James Cook Print 1774. Original engraving in black and white.
Te Aurere canoe
Nouvelle Zélande. Pilogue de l anse de l'Astrolabe. (Baie tasman.), Pirogue du canal de l'Astrolabe.
By Dumont d'Urville, Jules-Sébastien-César, 1790-1842 (Author)
From the collections “Voyage de la corvette l'Astrolabe exécuté par ordre du roi: pendant les années 1826-1827-1828-1829”
Who was Jules Dumont D’Urville ?
A plate containing details of canoes of Tolaga and Bream Bays, New Zealand, including whole views from above and the side, showing a triangular sail, a close-up of a sail, carvings from sterns and prows.
In Dumont d'Urville, Jules Sebastien Cesar, 1790-1842: Voyage de la corvette l'Astrolabe execute pendant les annees 1826, 1827, 1828 et 1829. Atlas historique. Paris, Tastu, 1833.
Titled 'View of Charlotte sound in New Zealand, by Clevely and Jukes.' in the Catalogue of Maps, Prints, Drawings, etc, forming the geographical and topographical collection attached to the Library of his late Majesty King George the third, etc, London, 1829 ; View of Queen Charlotte sound, two large crowded British ships at anchor in the calm bay with several boats and outrigger canoes on the water, longhouses and canoes on the shore amongst palms and other exotic trees, an officer amongst a group of Maori to the right foreground with a sailor saluting and two others folding a sail and another seated on the hillock to the right, a group of Maori working on a canoe to the left ; part of a series of South Seas views, published by Thomas Martyn. British Library
19 C canoe model
Marquesan type canoe model
Small model of a Marquesan voyaging canoe or “Vaka, Va’a, sometimes equipped with a sail.
MARQUESAN CANOE hull ornamented with incised patterns as shown in this model. The fore end piece is often carved with a human face whereby the end piece is bearing a recumbent tiki figure.
The models is graced with a tiki standing at the stern of the model. I was commissioned to build some identical models for The Four Seasons Hotel Resort Suites, Lana’i, Hawaii.
French Polynesian voyaging canoe sailing near Nuku -Hiva
TE-PAPA COLLECTIONS. A model-vaka-tou’ua ,sailing canoe from Marquesas
A 38 inch long model of a double-hulled Marquesan Voyaging canoe built by Francis Pimmel.
Resolution Bay in the Marquesas. Drawn from nature by William Hodges during Capt. James Cook second voyage , and engraved by B.T. Pouncey. Shows two Marquesan men with elaborate head-dresses in a canoe in the foreground, another manned canoe with a triangular sail to the right, two further canoes in the background and Cook's ship the Resolution in a sheltered cove in the rocky headland in the background. Print published by John Hawksworth's in 1776.
The painting of a “Waka Tou’ua” by Herb Kawainui Kane .
A carved tiki sitting at the stern of one of my models.
The remains of a double-hulled Marquesan canoe in 1910
Single hull Marquesan canoe model by Francis Pimmel
Miniature de pirogue à balancier de Niue MNM
Te Papa collections. The shape of the Niu island canoes is similar to the one of Tuvalu
Niue Island Polynesia, 19eme siecle, 21 inches long
Formerly Savage Island. 19C model. 25 inches long.
Tipairua voyaging canoe
A large Tipairua canoe model built by Francis Pimmel. The model is now in a large private canoe collection in Los Angeles.
William Anderson - A Pahie engraved by Thomas Milton (1743-1827) 1820
Early twenty century photo of a Tahitian racing canoe. Note the two different types of attachment iako to ama.
Native throwing spear on bord a “tipai-Hoe”
There is a notable similarity between old Tahitian and Hawaiian outriggers; however, their connection hull to float or ““ama” varies significantly. Both “iako” of the Hawaiian outriggers have a similar shape, while in the Tahitian design, one iako is straight, and the other is highly curved.
Tahitian outrigger with sprit sail.
Tahitian fishing canoe equipped with a sprit sail.
Small fishing canoe of the type “ Pu Hoe”
TE-PAPA COLLECTIONS. _ModelDouble-Hulled Canoe Vaka, Society island.
A View of Matavai Bay in the Island of Otaheite Tahiti, William Hodges, 1744–1797, British, 1776, Oil on canvas. (Photo by: Sepia Times/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Tahitian fishing canoe. View-in-front-of-the-clement-lindley-wragges-bungalow-patutoa-tahiti
A First-day cover ( 16 December 1976) issued in Papeete showing a Raiatea canoe.
Who is William Hodges ?
john Webber,, R.A. (1751-1793) Aquatint engraving with original hand color. A Sailing Canoe of Otaheite, Plate 3.
Who was John Webber ?
Steel engraving 1842 by Amiral Paris while circumnavigating the world on board Artemise.
Early 20th Century postcard showing outrigger canoe with sprit sail.
1792 engraving SOUTH SEA Society Islands with view of OTAHEITE
Painting. Beach of Raiatea by Coulon, around 1906.
Sketches and colored drawings made by J. Webber, during Captain Cook's third voyage, in 1776-1780,
Double-hulled Tipairua
A fully planked canoe model with the bow and stern extremities decorated with a tiki. The tikis should be looking inside the canoe.
Tahitian Tipairua
Canoe of Utaheite. Society islands. Sketch drawn during Capt. James Cook first voyage.
A Sailing Canoe of Otaheite by John Webber. Published in 1792. Four figures in a boat, two rowing in the stern, a woman standing at the mast, to which is secured a tall, narrow sail with a long tassel flying from the top, with another ship in the background to right, near a mountain.
The Fa’afaite voyaging canoe.
Otaheite canoe. Sketches and colored drawings made by J. Webber, during Captain Cook's third voyage, in 1776-1780,
Society islands. “A view of the islands of Otaheite with several vessels of that nation.” Sketch drawn during Capt. Cook first voyage. Engraved by E. Rooker.
The island of Otahiete bearing S.E. distant one league. Painted by William Hodges and engraved by W. Watts. In the foreground, two double canoes, one with a cabin. Several other sailing vessels in the bay.
Illustration of three different Pacific canoe style observed by Bougainville at: Tahiti, Choiseul (one of Solomon Islands) and Navigators Islands (Samoa). 1771
Titled “Cleopatra’s barge: a free translation, Utaroa, 27th October, 1846” by Capt. Henry Byam Martin while being stationed in Tahiti.
Utaroa is a community on Raiatea, one of the Societies islands.
This is another watercolor by Capt. Henry Byam Martin, drawn around 1846-47.
The raised stern of this vessel must have inspired the builders of Hikianalia and those other identical double-hulled contemporary voyaging canoes.
View in Ulietea with a double canoe & a boathouse. A group of Tahitians gathered around two baskets containing fish. A large double canoe. Engraved by E. Rooker.
Society islands. Canoes of Utaheite. Sketch drawn by Alexander Buchan in the countries visited by James Cook on his first voyage.
A very large “Kalia” type canoe which is the Tongan adaptation of the drua or double-hulled Fijian voyaging canoe.
The Tongan Kalia
Tongiaki type canoe
A beautiful model of the ancient double hulled Tongan voyaging canoe “TONGIAKI’. This type canoe was very similar to the Samoan “Va’a tele” and the Fiji Drua.
A top view of the "Tongiaki" canoe model highlights its similarities with the Fijian drua.
Maquette de bateau, Vaca, pirogue à balancier des îles Tonga MNM
A 19th century steel plate showing a “Tongiaki” canoe
Sailing canoe of Tonga Tabu [formerly New Amsterdam]. June 1774. Drawn in Indian ink, by William. Hodges, during the second voyage of Capt. Cook, in 1772-1774.,
A Tongiaki or traditional Tongan double-hulled canoe used for long distance voyaging. The “Tongiaki “ was eventually replaced by the “Kalia”, another double-hulled canoe that incorporated Fijian design elements.
A Tongan Kalia by Herb Kawainui Kane
Tongan Kalia
Drua and Kalia Design. Kalia is the Tongan adaptation of the Fiji drua.. Kalia stands for double-hulled canoe in Tongan language.
Showing the typical canoe prow of a Tokelau vaka . Kanava trees were used to build those canoes.
Vaka model (outrigger canoe) from the Te Papa Collections.
Small fishing canoe model of the type “Paopao”
A pahi sailing canoe model in the TE-PAPA collections. Apparently there is also a model at the Bishop Museum, Honolulu, as well as in the Louvre, Paris.
Those double-hulled voyaging canoes were long by 40 feet with a beam of 11 feet. The canoe could take up to 16 people on board.
A pahi model.
A Pahi model.
Pahi Drawing by Admiral Paris
Maquette de bateau, Pirogue double des îles Tuamotou MNM
Tuvalu canoe. Te-Papa collections.
This is a model canoe replicating a Tuvalu canoe. of the type “Paopao”.
TePapa_Vaka-model-outrigger
A Niutao island canoe on exhibit at the Ethnologisches Museum Berlin-Dahlem.
Canoe model
Formerly “Ellice” Island. Fishing canoe vaka alo from Nui island
Hard to localize but looks to be from Vaitupu which is an atoll in Tuvalu
Showing the typical stern end section of the Funafuti canoes. Tuvalu canoes were traditionally plank built sewn together with coconut fiber rope
Fishing canoe vaka alo from the central island NUI
Fishing canoe vaka alo from the northern islands like Nanumanga and Niutao
A northern canoe.
Line drawings and tGerman terminology of the various canoe parts
19C photo of a Tuvalu canoe in Funafut
Fishing canoe “Vaka Alo”
Front to back: Samoan Va’aalo or bonito fishing canoe, a Tuvalu vaka alo or large Tuvalu fishing canoe from Niutao island, A te puke or ocean going canoe with crab-claw sail from Taumako/Nifiloli, Santa-Cruz islands, and a Micronesian canoe from Jaluit, Marshall Islands on the left.
"Taumako Nifiloli" likely refers to the voyage of the "Te Puke" (also known as "Vaka Taumako") canoe, which sailed from Taumako (Duff Islands) to Nifiloli in the Outer Reef Islands, and then back to Taumako
Small Futuna Island canoe model
19th Century lithography illustrating canoes from Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia
Illustration by Jules Dumont D’Urville showing New-Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Sulawesi canoes
Over many years, I have researched canoes from across Oceania and archived images of these vessels, including various models. I have now decided to share these pictures online. This task will take many months or years to complete fully. This page will focus on Melanesian canoes.
Looks very much like a Solomon island canoe, but no, it is a “Tatala” canoe from Taiwan…The history of Polynesia does through Taiwan.
A small canoe of the type “Korakora” from the Molukes archipelago.
A voyaging canoe from the Ninigo Islands, which are a group of 31 islands within the Western Islands of the Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea.
One look at the mast head and it is definiyely a Fijian sailing canoe of the type Thamakau or Kamakao. The topmast or " ndomondomo" endis in a typical two-horned "truck
This is a model of a Fijian drua (double hulled sailing canoe).The drua was the largest and finest sea-going vessel ever designed and built by natives of Oceania
The model is at the Te Papa Tongareva Museum of New Zealand .
This is a very rare magic lantern slide showing a Fiji drua near a beach in Fiji
This is a beautiful and helpful line drawing of a Fiji Drua illustrated in the book VOYAGERS by Herb Kawainui Kane.
A small but very old Fijian Drua model
The float connected to the outriggers by three pairs of stanchions would indicate that the canoe is from Fiji. The difference between a Fiji Proa (Kamakau) and a Fiji Drua is that the Drua consists of 2 hulls, whereas a Proa is a single-hull canoe with outriggers and float.
A scale model I built several years ago purchased by a collector in Taiwan. This collector visited the Suva Museum, Fiji, where he was captivated by the Drua displayed there. As a result, he commissioned me to create a model of it.
This is the last surviving original drua canoe on display at the Suva Museum. Suva is the capital of the South Pacific island nation of Fiji.
A Fijian canoe of the type “Takia”.
A small incomplete model canoe. The railings would indicate it to be Fijian.
This looks to be a very old, simplified Fiji Camakau.
Fiji camakau racing
Fiji voyaging canoe of the type “vakau” very common on the island of Lau. They were built to be used on the high sea.
This is the Fiji voyaging canoe in the “Fiji House” at the Polynesian Cultural Center, Lai’e, Oahu, Hawaii. The canoe is an old, original vessel of which I made a model of it, right down to scale, some years ago.
Fiji camakau canoe
Fiji Camakau canoe
Fiji fishing canoe of the type camakau
Fiji Drua acquired by the Stiftung Humbold Forum at Berliner Schloss. Note the drums or “lali” at the foot of the canoe.
One of the ways to find out whether a canoe is of a Fiji type, look no further than the masthead, the “ndomondomo,” which looks like a tow-horned spear. But a same shape masthead was also used on some Tonga voyaging canoe.
Small camakau fishing canoe
The life-size drua on display at the Suva Museum in Fiji is a remarkable example of the most significant and finest sea-going vessel ever designed and built by the indigenous peoples of Oceania prior to European contact. Its construction features an entirely plank-built design, distinguishing it from outrigger boats.
A famous painting by Herb Kawainui Kane illustrating a Drua sailing on the high seas.
Line drawing of a Fijian Camakau or Tamatau.
The Sema Makawa canoe at the New Zealand Maritime Museum.
A beautiful and well made Fiji Drua model
This picture was taken By F.H. Dufty of NAVUKINIVANUA - “The turner of the land” - one of the last of the great drua or hulled-outrigger voyaging canoes of the nineteenth century, and the last to be owned by Ratu Seru Cakobau, anchored just off Nasova on the eastern shore of Ovalau. Given the prestige and the ceremonial dress of the many high chiefs visible in this picture, the occasion is probably that of 20 November 1877, when Navukinivanua was sailed from Bau to Nasova and symbolically presented by Cakobau, together with a big rootstock of yaqona, to Lady Gordon.
In this picture the kata or hull of the canoe is towards the camera, with the smaller outrigger hull or cama masked by it. The mualevu, or “big prow” is to the right, the mualailai or “little prow” to the left. The coconut leaf matting sunshades which were usually rolled down in port are still rolled up, giving a fine view into the deckhouse, which is open to the kata side, the kata allways being kept to leeward in sailing. The mast or vana has been hauled upright from the raking position it is held in when sailing, and the sail and yards rolled and laid along the deck platform, forming a comfortable seat for Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, eldest son of Ratu Cakobau, who is wearing a white iwabale shoulder sash and has his right leg cocked over a coil of heavy vau bark rope towards the left hand duruduru or pilaster of the deckhouse, with lesser chiefs left of him. A group of chiefs wearing white barkcloth ivauvau hair-wrappers are seated on deck before the deckhouse, the bearded old man to the right of the mast being one of Cakobau’s brothers, Cakobau himself is the old man with the resplendent side whiskers (such as he favoured in 1876-77) wearing a shirt and a smoked masikuvui hair-wrapper, who is sitting just to the right of the lali slit drum that is positioned across the right hand outside end of the deckhouse. Several men stand posing on the prow, pretending to pole the canoe along. [Fergus Clunie, 14/7/2003, from record P.27781.VH, JD 7/1/2012]
Fijian fisherman and turtles. A postcard from the 30s.
A fishing canoe model representing those found in the Humboldt Bay, New-Guinea.
A nice model of a Huon Gulf canoe. This type of canoe is considered one of the most beautiful in Melanesia, known for its excellent nautical qualities. Some of these canoes were up to 60 feet long. On the islands of Tami and Siassi, they were called "wang," but nowadays, we mostly refer to them as "Siassi" canoes.
Canoe model from the Geelvink Bay.
The Taku canoes are very similar to those from the islands of Leuaniua and Nuku-manu.
Showing the hull of a Aua Island canoe . 3rd from the top
Francis Pimmel's love of boats and ships began while watching the colorful freight barges sailing along French canals. As a young boy he marveled at the decorated steering houses of each barge, and wondered how her skipper could possibly load his 2 CV car on top of the hatchways and keep his pet dog, cats or bird aboard. At 14 he bought his first book about canoe building and built his first life-size canoe with the help of his brother. Many more books followed, ranging from boat building to woodworking, another of his passions. Many years later, when moving to Hawaii with his family in 1991, Pimmel read "Hokule'a, The Way to Tahiti" by Ben R. Finney.
Since reading the story of that most audacious and little-reported voyage covering 6000 miles in a reconstructed Polynesian canoe, Pimmel's collection of rare and fine books, special subjects, studies and pamphlets on specialized aspects of Polynesian seafaring, Pacific navigators and canoe building has grown considerably.
Without doubt, a great classic of the maritime ethnography of Oceania "Canoes of Oceania" by Haddon & Hornell for its depth of research. No library would be complete without "Atlas des Violiers et Pirogues du Monde" from Admiral Paris (1843) and the now rare volumes I and II of "Pirogues Oceaniennes" by Jean Neyret, containing the line drawings and descriptions of literally thousands of Oceanic canoes covering the Pacific from Hawaii to Sumatra and from Java to Easter Island and even as far afield as Madagascar. Edward Dodd's writings about Polynesian seafaring as well as those by David Lewis contain a wealth of information for the further understanding of the wonders and secrets of Polynesia and their Pacific island Navigators. Tommy Holmes' book "The Hawaiian Canoe" is outstanding in that it treats the subject of Hawaiian canoes in great depth but with great readability. And last but not least worth noting is "Voyagers", a collection of words and images by Herb Kawainui Kane.
In addition to books relating to canoe building and Pacific seafaring and navigators, Pimmel's shelves are stacked high with books about boat design and architecture, ship modeling, rigging and sailing. His library serves an educational function, to provide understanding of the culture of the people of the Pacific, and, in particular, their maritime culture and their canoe building skills and traditions. Reading these books has helped Pimmel become aware that a multitude of canoes of different size, shape and form were built in every tiny corner of the Pacific islands, and how sometimes the construction of a given type of canoe evolved from one neighboring island to another; or how Pacific migrations influenced the shape of a type of canoe 1000 miles away (for example, the surprising similarities between the Solomon islands war canoes and some types of Filipino vessels with elevated bow and stern). Similarly, years of studying the canoes of Oceania and having assisted in the construction of some of them along the Sulu Sea, have contributed to Pimmel's knowledge of the construction of these canoes; knowledge that he makes use of in his scale models not just from Polynesia, but also other parts of the Pacific rim.
More information
More information
A private collection of rare old prints, post cards, and original photos illustrating canoes from Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia.
Filipino banca.
Native Hawaiian pushing his canoe to sea.
Cooper engraving after a drawing by Admiral Paris showing 2 large flying prao of the type “popo”
The average length of those canoe was 27 to 30 feet. They were equipped with 2 pandanus huts, the larger one on the leeward side whereby the smaller one was fastened on the windward side.
A flying prao of the type “popo”
Where are the Caroline Islands ?
An outrigger along the shores of Waikiki.
Caroline Islands
Fishing canoe
Filipino banca. Filipino canoes are equipped with double outriggers.
Canoe surfing
A selection of photos taken by the artist - some of these canoes, and people associated with them, have become legends and are forever associated with the Hawaiian cultural renaissance.
Due to the large quanitity of photographs, you can find the full set on Flickr, including the many photographs that Pimmel took when five voyaging canoes gathered on the shores of Oahu on May 13th 1995.
Pier 41, 1995
A small selection of Francis Pimmel's private collection of vintage and historical canoe models from around the Pacific.
