The Hawaiki Nui Va`a
With no exaggeration, this is the 'Greatest Canoe Race on Earth' as Tahiti Tourisme has coined a phrase for it. If you were to question as to why this might be I suppose you would have to bring it down to the essentials; location, format, atmosphere, competitiveness, prize money and sheer size make it unique.
For the men, 3 days of racing between some of the Society Islands most scenic and fabled island in the Pacific; Huahine, Raiatea, Tahaa and Bora Bora, each leg without change overs. For the women a 42km change over race departing from Raiatea.
[Click to enlarge images; past adverts placed in KC publications]
Over the next few months, I will add more information regarding this great event, of which I have attended on 5 occasions and competed twice. In the meantime enjoy viewing some of the great adverts which the sponsors and Tahiti Tourisme placed in past issues of KANUculture.
