Just as the movie Moana portrayed, Polynesians were ocean-going voyagers of the sea. They used double-hulled canoes, sometimes fifty feet long and powered by wind. On board, they carried precious cargo of seeds, cultivated plants, and domestic animals to create and support their island ways of life: coconut, breadfruit, bananas, taro, yams, arrowroot, and sugarcane.
Some boats were made by shaping and smoothing timber with an adze stone or hollowing out the hull from wood for smaller canoes. The single canoe has one outrigger, but sometimes there were two. For some, they used the wood from the breadfruit tree.
The Polynesian’s navigation skills show a deep understanding and respect for nature. They relied on their knowledge of the sea, the night sky, the ocean currents, the clouds, winds, and even the colors of the sky. Unfortunately, many of these skills have been lost over time.
“The clouds that collect over islands often reflect the colors of the land below. The lush green of a high forested interior will be mirrored in the sky. If the island is an atoll with a large lagoon, the blue underlining of the cloud over is a sure sign of the island’s nature. At first sight, the seafarers know much about their destination before they catch sight of land.” Peter Crawford
On the Tongan island of Eua, a program is underway to teach the islanders the art of canoe construction. This program promotes traditional skills but also offers practical benefits. Canoes, being less damaging to the coral reefs and more cost-effective than gas-powered boats, are a better choice, and fishing from canoes provides a healthier diet for the islanders. Funded by the government, this program is a valuable opportunity for the elders to pass on their knowledge and skills, ensuring the continuity of this little island’s heritage.
Many of the Pacific Islands are volcanic and have risen several thousand feet into the sky. I am sure that these Polynesian voyagers had to have a lot of faith to travel the unknown seas. But not only did they have faith, but they were prepared.
“Like voyagers in space, these explorers traveled with their self-contained life-support system. When they landed at their destination, they used their ancestral skills and wisdom to create a landscape which would provide for their needs…Like the American Indians, they were not environmental saints, but they knew that their survival depended on the way they capitalized on the natural resources of their island world. They were adapted and resourceful.” Peter Crawford
The beautiful cultures that flourished on these islands have intrigued many of us for years. Projects, like the canoe building on Eua, are encouraging to keep these cultures thriving and the importance of their heritage.