“Thought to share the below with all of you. Canoe apprentice Ryan Olivares is the Wood Shop teacher for both Olomana School, and the Hawai’i Youth Correctional Facility (HYCF). He has the responsibility of repairing and refurbishing a 40+ ft racing koa canoe that had been in a great state of disrepair for four decades. … Read more
There was a lot involved in rebuilding this wa’a (replacing the top of the hull kuamo’o/kino, the manu hope/ihu, seats na nohona, ama, and na i’ako. Tay will be sharing his techniques by finishing the KVA canoe with the help of Bonnie Kahape’a – Tanner, staff, and/students. “Thought to Share a Photo of last Friday’s … Read more
Aloha Friends – I am writing to let you know I have finished my canoe “Ho’omau.” Billy, Tay and I discussed different names and felt this one fit. It has been a long 6 years since I started this project and persistence has been the overriding factor. Of course, there would be no canoe without … Read more
The scale model of the Hawaii Loa canoe on view here in the A’o cultural space was constructed in the early part of her 8-year apprenticeship with Mr. Bowman. Ka`ili has continued the Hawaiian practice of building scale replicas of canoes but is most known for her contemporary sculptural installations that address indigenous issues. Her … Read more
The Au Hou (New Era) is an 18-foot fishing canoe designed and largely built by Bowman, Jr., but Wrighto died before it was completed. The canoe was donated by Sharon Bowman, Wrighto’s widow, to the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.
