Wanted: Two Massive Trees

The first challenge was to secure the giant logs for the hulls of Hawai`iloa. Traditional Polynesian canoes were of two kinds: those hollowed from logs and those built up from planks and sewn to a keel (see example in upstairs gallery). Hawaiians were blessed with a wonderful native hardwood: koa. Two trees, each at least 50 ft long and 6 ft in diameter, were needed. Koa trees of this size take over 100 years to grow!

E ola koa.
Live like a koa.
Live a long time, like a koa tree in the forest.
(`Olelo No`eau #365; Pukui 1983)
Searching in Vain
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Revised on August 29, 1996 by mcb