The Racing Canoe Carver
Talk Story: Episode 7“It’s a labor of love, you might say.”
An authentic canoe carver shares about the art and process of carving these sleek, beautiful vessels.
“Wa’a kaukahi,” or single-hulled outrigger canoes, have long been a staple of Hawaiian culture and tradition. Canoes were used by ancient Polynesian settlers to first travel to Hawaii and they later played vital roles in battles and wars. Since then, Hawaiians turned to canoes for voyages, fishing, and as a source as entertainment for racing. Today, paddling and racing remains a very active lifestyle throughout the islands. Local resident Michael Adams is a “kalai wa’a,” or canoe carver. His passion is creating wa’a kaukahi from single tree logs, usually Koa wood. He enjoys the authenticity of carving from a single piece of wood because it represents the old Hawaiian way. He crafts with a tool known as an “adze,” and the very labor intensive work requires much patience and care. Each piece of the log is chosen, cut, and placed carefully, meticulously fit together like a puzzle. This featured vessel took him seven years to complete and is named “kealakapu na holokai,” meaning “the sacred path for seafarers.” Michael continues to share his labor of love with Maui and its visitors as he hopes to carve another wa’a kaukahi from another full Koa tree.
Video Blog
Our Archive of Videos and articles will help you imagine your Maui vacation.
Maui and His Magic Hook
he Hawaiian islands and culture are unique in a way that is like no other. One may have heard of many different versions of legends and mythical stories of the demigod Maui and his many adventures on how he attains and conquers great feats with his magical hook made from the heavens.
The Story of Haleakala
The journey to visit the top of this majestic mountain and dormant volcano named Haleakala is arguably one of if not the number one main attraction on Maui. There are many ways to experience this extraordinary endeavor such as going up with a bike tour and pedaling back down, up before dawn for the sunrise experience, at your leisure in time for the sunset, camping or staying overnight in the crater at a cabin, horseback riding across the volcanic floor or travel up at night to see the outstandingly clear view of the stars.
What’s In Your Hiking Pack?
Every time I leave the pavement, I take along my trusty hiking pack – even if I have no intention of hiking. Doing this has become a habit rather than a conscious decision.
Hawaii Tourist Attractions – Most Liked Place Around The World
The magic of Hawaii tourist places is the sparkling grains of sand in contrast with blue water; and enchanting view of the sunset makes tourist to fall in love with Hawaii.
Boat Anchoring
Usually when you buy a used boat, the anchor that comes with the boat generally matches the area the boat cruises in. Cruisers that go up and down the coast may have 3 types of anchors so they can choose the right anchor.
Surf Fitness: Ride the Waves and Go with the Flow
Want to catch some waves? Then get surf-fit with these sport-specific exercise tips that will keep you out there riding the breakers for longer.
10 Maui Must Do’s
Maui is a stunning travel destination that many of us have on our travel bucket lists. This island is part of the Hawaiian archipelago, and consequently lies in the Central Pacific.
Hawaii’s Inspirational Watermen
Think of Hawaii and the magnificent coastline that hugs the islands springs to mind. The oceans are a major part of the culture, not just for tourists but for the locals too. Ever since the Polynesians ventured out in their canoes and fishing boats and stumbled across these incredible islands, indigenous people have been using the sea as their main source of living.
SUP: Where Did it Come From?
SUP (or stand up paddle boarding) has increased in popularity throughout the years. An active and fun aquatic adventure, you can enjoy the ocean in a unique way that’s different to anything you have ever experienced before.
Explore Maui on a Budget
A lot of people assume that they are going to need to save for years and years in order to have the holiday of their dreams. However, this is not the case! It is a lot easier to visit Maui on a budget than you may realize. In this blog post, we are going to take a look at some of the different ways that you can save money while exploring everything that Maui has to offer.
How to Relax on Maui in just 48 hours
If you are visiting Maui for the first time and you are planning your trip, you have probably already done a bit of research online. You will, therefore, have likely already noticed that most people recommend leaving yourself at least one week per island in order to explore everything that the area has to offer.
Camping vs Hotel: Maui Style
If you are someone who usually always stays in a hotel, camping on Maui may not seem appealing upon the first mention. However, Maui is a place that is perfectly suited to camping and it can provide a more luxurious and exciting experience than you may realize. With that in mind, in this blog post, we are going to take a look at some of the different reasons you should consider hotel alternatives such as camping while visiting Maui.
25 Activities to Do on Maui
If you have been looking online for Maui activities for your next break here, you are certainly going to be spoilt for choice. There is so much to see and do in the area. Plus, if you take a look online, you will also see that there are a lot of Maui activity deals too.
Annual Events on Maui
The island of Maui is bursting with fun activities, with both Mauka (mountainside) and Makai (oceanside) entertainment and excursions available on an almost daily basis. However the Magi Isle celebrates a diverse range of cultural festivals and events throughout the year too. Let’s take a look at some of the best.
Funny Facts about Hawaii
There is no denying that Hawaii is one of the most magical and impressive locations to visit in the world. When going on vacation here, or anywhere else for that matter, it is always good to learn about the place you are visiting.
Whales of Hawaii
Our Favorite Food Trucks
Looking to grab some tasty grub in Maui? Whilst the island has some top notch restaurants worth visiting, you’ll save yourself a few dollars by getting a meal from one of Maui’s many food trucks. The island has a buzzing food truck scene – not only is this food here affordable, but it’s often just as high quality as the stuff you get dining out.
The Giants of Maui
Humpback whales are incredible creatures. Weighing between 25 and 40 metric tons they truly are the giants of the ocean. Here in Maui, they start to appear in our waters in the winter months. Between December and April, these majestic animals are in abundance around the island – housing the world’s most populated school in terms of density.
Guide to a Successful Stand-up Paddle Board Experience
Looking for a new cool water sport to try in Maui? Perhaps you’ve been on kayak tours and tried your hand at surfing already? Stand-up Paddle boarding (SUP) has become very popular around the island and could be the next fun sport to take up.
Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Voyaging Society
Legends of Ka’anapali
The Paddle Carver
Ho’omana Spa
Big Kahuna Adventures Surf School
Blue Hawaiian Helicopters
Atlantis Submarines
Maui Beaches
Paia Fish Market
The Racing Canoe Carver
A Day in the Life of a Muralist
Discover More of Maui
Kayak Tours
Private Sunset Cruise
Sunset Dinner & Cocktail Cruises
Sunset Sailing
Sarento’s On the Beach
Morimoto Maui
Merriman’s Maui
Mill House
Mama’s Fish House
Hali‘imaile General Store
Roasted Chiles
Fleetwood’s on Front St.
Monkeypod Kitchen
Sea House Restaurant
Café O Lei
Café des Amis
Maui Brewing Co.
Horhitos Taqueria
Teddy’s Bigger Burgers
Ae’s Thai Kitchen
Geste Shrimp Truck
Dino’s Gourmet
Like Poke?
Thai Mee Up
Mediterranean Grill
Our Favorite Restaurants
Top 25 Things to Do on Maui
Robi Campbell’s Interview
Explore Hosmer Grove
Calisto Palos
Conquer Your Fear of Heights
First Whale of 2017
A Day trip to another world
Navigating the ‘Higher’ Self
What is Nature?
Start your Adventure here!
Land or sea you'll discover more of Maui with Aloha Outdoors