Fijian Drua - Museum of Suva

"The Fijian double canoe (wangga ndrua) was the largest and finest sea-going vessel ever designed and built by natives of Oceania before contact with Europeans."

Druas were large, up to 100 feet (30 m) long, and could carry over 200 people. Despite being called canoes, they were not dugouts but plank-built ships. Today, Fiji druas are still a symbol of Fiji, and Fiji's telephone booths are decorated with the characteristic mast-tops of druas. Fourty man were required for the handling of this fine vessel.

The model shown here is a scaled-down version of the Ratu Finau War Canoe in the Fiji Museum of Suva. You can view a photo stream showing the gradual construction of this exceptional and difficult-to-build model on Flickr.com

Commissioned at the end of 2012, this 17 3/4" long model was shipped to its Taiwanese collector in March 2013.

Since that date, Francis built only 1 additional very large scaled-down version of the Fiji Drua, which can be admired at the Polynesia Cultural Center, Lai'e, Oahu, Hawaii.

Fiji Drua

FIJI DRUA

This 36 inch long model was built in 2016 and his on display at the POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER, Lai'e, Hawaii.

FIJI DRUA

The Fiji Drua model resting on a 4 feet wide working table, my favorite place to adjust the halyards on models with sails. Here I am finishing some touches before displaying it at the MADE IN HAWAII FESTIVAL 2016. The model was later acquired by the Polynesian Cultural Center, Laie, Hawaii.

FIJI DRUA

The heel of the arched beams had the shape of a horse shoe and were anchored onto the deck plank using a tenon.

FIJI DRUA

Deck hut construction. In the foreground the massive cross-beam " ai vorati" resting on 2 pilasters.

FIJI DRUA

The deck hut of the Fijian Drua served 2 functions and the most important of those 2 is not what comes to mind a priory. Indeed the deck hut main purpose was to act as a buffer against the mast which (not yet installed in this picture) is located in front of the hut. The second function was of course to act as a shelter. The deck hut basic construction consists of 3 major elements:

a) two or three pilasters (2 in this picture)

b) a very heavy beam resting on the pilasters

c) 3 or 4 arched beams anchored into the deck forming the roof of the deck hut and acting as a buttress to support and reinforce the cross-beam resting on top of the pilasters.

FIJI DRUA

Final construction of the hut prior to install the upper deck "quila"and railings "vaca lakeba"

FIJI DRUA

Fiji Drua hut anchored on top of the deck. Notice the many lashings holding the deck planks onto the cross-beams, over 200 if I count well.. Noticeable are the 27 cross beams connecting the larger hull "kata" to the smaller hull "thama", the 4 hatches, and the 4 butterfly shaped sculling holes.

FIJI DRUA

The deck with its hut. The upper railings of the hut are decorated with cowrie shell on the life size canoe

FIKI CAMAKAU

A scale model of the Fiji Camakau at the Polynesian Cultural Center.

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