Va'a
Vaʻais a word inSamoan,HawaiianandTahitianwhich means 'boat', 'canoe' or 'ship'.[1]A larger traditional seagoing vessel for long-distance voyages is referred to asvaʻa tele(big ship). The termaliais also used for larger vessels in Samoa. The smallervaʻaused for fishing typically have a float, oroutrigger,attached to the main hull for stability. This outrigger part of the canoe is calledamain variousPolynesian languages.
The word iscognatewith other Polynesian words such asvakaor theMāoriwordwaka.[2]It is also used to designate thesportof outrigger canoe racing. Due to the extra stability created by an outrigger system, a modified version of the va'a canoe was included as a newParalympic Gamesevent from 2020.
Types ofvaʻa[edit]
Samoa[edit]
The Samoans have four kinds of canoes, smaller fishing vessels or the larger oceangoingva'a-teleorʻalia,which are mostly out of use today;[3]
- paopaoA singleoutrigger canoemade from a single log;
- vaʻa-aloA small fishing-canoe.
- Large single canoes, termed respectivelyla'au lima(five-barred), or six or seven-barred, as the case might be, were canoes varying in length from thirty, fifty, sixty, and even seventy feet, as required. They were balanced by an outrigger firmly lashed to the canoe on the left side at a distance of three feet if meant for pulling, but of five or six feet if required for sailing. The single canoes have a light appearance, the prow and stern being slightly curved upwards, so that merely the bosom or central part of an unloaded canoe rests upon the water.
- ʻalia. Samoan double canoe,va'a-tele(the big canoe), was much larger, and consisted of two canoes, one longer than the other, lashed together with cross-bars amidships, and having the thatched shed or cabin built upon a stage that projected over the stern, instead of in midships, as in the Tonga canoes. It was much larger than this canoe, but more difficult to manage, yet able to carry one or twoVaʻa-alo,or small fishing-canoes, on deck as required.
Construction[edit]
A main hull of avaʻacan be made in one piece, from a hollowed out trunk of a large tree with theamafloat attached later. Other types of Polynesian construction include 'sewing' planks of wood together with special cords and ropes, a type of hand madesennit,important in the material cultures of the people ofOceania.
Other meanings[edit]
Vaʻais also a surname in theSamoa Islands,and may refer to:
- Earl Va'a(b. 1976), Samoan rugby player
- Justin Va'a(b. 1978), Samoan rugby player
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^Pratt, George."Title: A Grammar and Dictionary of the Samoan Language, with English and Samoan vocabulary, NZ Licence CC-BY-SA 3.0".NZ Electronic Text Centre, Victoria University of Wellington.Retrieved19 November2010.
- ^Barclay-Kerr, Hoturoa (22 September 2012)."Story: Waka – canoes – 'Waka taua' Te Ara".Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.p. 3.Retrieved12 January2015.
- ^Stair, John B (1983).Old Samoa.Papakura, NZ: R McMillan. pp. 142–153.Retrieved12 February2011.NZ Electronic Text Centre, Victoria University of Wellington, NZ Licence CC-BY-SA
External links[edit]
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