Ancient Ways & Modern Ingenuity

The last voyaging canoe of traditional raw materials was built hundreds of years ago. Ancient wa`a (canoes) were carved from logs, lashed together with braided fibers, and fitted with woven sails. Could it be done again? How would it sail?

Information gleaned from historical accounts, kupuna (elders), and archaeology was blended with a healthy dose of experimentation and modern ingenuity. Hawai`iloa, a wa`a kaulua (double-hull ocean-going canoe) was built to sail on the open seas. Mauloa, a wa`a kaukahi (single-hull coastal canoe) was made completely of native materials using traditional technologies.

Explore the back gallery to learn more about the making of Hawai`iloa.

Finding the Way
Front Gallery of the Hawai`iloa Exhibit

Back to the Hawai'iloa page
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Revised on August 29, 1996 by mcb