The canoe

As lovers of Polynesia, we felt it was important to tell you about the canoe, so present in Polynesian culture. The origin of canoes dates back almost 2000 years, when the ancestors of the Polynesians undertook long voyages. It is impossible to dissociate the canoe from the history of Polynesia.

In the beginning, large double-canoes with sails were used, and these are also the origin of the creation of catamarans.

Originally, canoes were made from tree trunks and the sail was made from pandanus (a tropical plant), which today covers the roofs of the bungalows of the magnificent Polynesian hotels.

Today, pirogues are still part of the Polynesian landscape. They continue to sail from island to island, but are also used for lagoon fishing. All overwater hotels have them to deliver breakfast to bungalows and also to offer an introduction to the sport to their guests.

Above all, va'a—canoe in Tahitian—is THE king of sports in Polynesia. Young and old alike practice it daily and compete in numerous competitions. The most important, the one everyone eagerly awaits, is the Hawaiki Nui va'a, a three-stage race that ends in the magnificent lagoon of Bora Bora, pitting crews of six Polynesian and foreign rowers against each other. These modern canoes are made from lightweight, technical materials, some of them carbon.

As you will have understood, the canoe is an essential part of this magnificent culture, and if you ever have the chance to visit this wonderful country, do not hesitate to learn the basics of the Polynesian canoe, the Maohis will be happy to share with you their ancestral knowledge on the subject.