Hawai'i 21 Va'a the Legend Continues

The Va'a is the Polynesian ship. The exploration of the Pacific Triangle extending from Aotearoa to the Southwest to Rapanui to the East then North to the Hawai'i Archipelago was accomplished by double hulled Va'a with sails and, of course, paddlers. The Va'a remains a significant icon in Polynesian culture. One Va'a carver from Aotearoa spoke of the Va'a as "our Spirit."
The International Va'a Federation was hosted by the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association in Hilo for the IVF World Sprint Championships. Approximately 3000 paddlers from more than thirty countries spent two weeks in Hilo, Hawai'i competing in racing. The course was in Hilo Bay. The video gives a sense of the scene with an accompanying "interview" with two members of the Horouta Hoe Club of Aotearoa. Nothing physically perceptible or tangible could have brought all of these disparate cultures together. There seems to be another level of reality that binds these people together. These athletes spend their time and treasure to prepare, then to travel the world participating in a sport that they love.