Two Native people with outrigger canoes at shoreline, Honolulu, Hawaii

Two Native people with outrigger canoes at shoreline, Honolulu, Hawaii

Native Hawaiians
outrigger canoes
beach
transportation

This picture shows 2 native Hawaiians on the shoreline with their outrigger canoes. The significance of this photo proves how much water and water based sports, were a big part of the Hawaiian culture. They had a vast knowledge of the water, which can be shown through their designs of the canoe. These canoes were the only means of transportation and voyaging to other lands. They were also used to run errands and to catch fish. Whilst this picture is dated much later, in 1908 the Outrigger Canoe Club was founded on Oahu. This helped to popularise surfing and outrigger canoe racing, which seemed to be lost after successful attempts to westernise native Hawaiians.

Unknown

Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Reading Room, Prints & Photographs Online Catalogue

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/93500256/

circa 1922

Catherine Kennedy

Library of Congress

N/A

Visual - photograph

20th century Hawai'i