Outrigger Basics
Aloha!
Aloha!
Below you will find some helpful information whether you're brand new to the sport or just want to brush up on some knowledge. We will cover
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Parts of the canoe
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Seat responsibilities
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Hawaiian commands
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Huli recover
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Rigging the canoe
Parts of the Canoe
Responsibilities
Each person in the canoe has a responsibility. We encourage everyone to familiarize themselves with what each seat contributes. One of our philosophies is "no one owns a seat", which means we intend to get people out of their comfort zones and challenge all of our paddlers to learn and grow as individuals as well as with the team.
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Seat 1 -
Sits at the ihu va'a (see above)
Sets the pace for the team
Communicates with Steers to guide the canoe
2. Seat 2 -
Communicates with Seat 1 to find a pace that works well
Keeps perfect time with Seat 1
Keeps an eye on the ama, leans on the i'ako in case of huli
*A strong seat 1&2 work together to set the time and lift the nose of the canoe to help her move through the water. However, it is NOT the job of 1&2 to pull the canoe - the focus should be on a consistent, synced rhythm.*
3. Seat 3 -
Calls change-overs
Communicates with Steers about when to call
First seat in the "engine room"
Relays commands from Steers to front of the canoe
4. Seat 4 -
Second seat in the "engine room"
Keeps an eye on the ama, leans on the i'ako in case of huli
5. Seat 5 -
Backup Steers - communicates with steers about strategy
Third seat in the "engine room"
Often a seat for brand new paddlers to receive instruction
Also a seat to train Steers
*The "engine room" is responsible for most of the strength that propels the canoe forward. Part of this is keeping perfect time with seats 1&2 along with power through the water.*
6. Seat 6 -
Steersperson, commands the canoe
Responsible for the safety of the crew
Provides clear communication and commands
Hawaiian Commands
In keeping as close as we can with Hawaiian tradition, we ask that our steers-people and our paddlers familiarize themselves with these commands -
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Hoe Hapai (ho-ay hap-pie) - Lift the paddle, prepare to paddle
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Huki (hoo-kee) - To pull, to begin paddling
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Lawa (lah-vah) - Stop paddling
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Kahi (kah-hee) - Paddle at a 90* angle to turn the canoe
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Une (oo-nee) - to lever when turning
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Huli (hoo-lee) - to flip the canoe
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Wa'a (vah-ah) - Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe
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Imua (ee-moo-ah) - forward on land, used in canoe moving/loading
Huli Recovery
A huli happens when the canoe flips over. This does not happen often on our river, but keeping cool and knowing what your responsibility is in case of a huli is important. Not only this, huli recovery knowledge and experience is required for many races. Below you will find a video demonstrating a huli recovery as well as the written procedure with each seat's responsibility.
Huli Prevention
-Good paddling technique: only hinging forward at the hips, not leaning to the sides of the kino (hull).
-Huli cord: a cord tied between the two i'akos at a paddle's length away from the kino. Seats 3&4 apply pressure to cord with their blades if they feel the ama rise.
-Bailing: as necessary, use bailers to scoop accumulated water out of the va'a.
-Steers may want to have seat 5 remain on the left side in big waters.
Huli
-When huli is inevitable, don't fight it. Relax, and when surfacing, come up with hands above head to prevent hitting i'ako or ama.
-Look for your partner (1&2, 3&4, 5&6).
-Steers calls for a count-off of 1-6.
Huli Recovery
Seat 1: Gather paddles and equipment. Should be a strong swimmer. Push nose perpendicular to waves and/or into the wind.
Seat 2&5: Climb over the hull, use i'akos as a footstool. Put feet on muku and pull i'akos to lift the ama.
Seats 3&4: Swim to far side of ama and push it over as 2&5 pull.
Seat 6: Calls for head count and gives instructions to coordinate actions.
-Two paddlers get in the kino from the left side - usually this is 2&5. However, if someone is known to struggle to get into the va'a, they should get in first, as this will be when the va'a sits lowest in the water.
-The paddlers who have returned to the va'a begin to bail from seats 3&4. Always bail water to the ama side.
-Seats 3&4 hold the ama until it is their time to enter the va'a. Enter one at a time and allow 2&5 to move to their seats.
-Seats 1&6 will be the last to get in from the left side of the bow and the stern.
-Seats 1, 2, 5, & 6 begin to paddle as 3&4 continue to bail. Seat 3 will resume paddling next, 4 will join last when the water is sufficiently bailed.
Rigging the Va'a
Rigging the va'a is a sacred tradition in Hawaiian culture, as it is the reconnection of the body (the kino) with the soul (the ama) to reunite the va'a as a whole. Traditionally, each family (ohana) would have their specific way of rigging the va'a, and this identified which canoe belonged to which family. Here we want to show you our club's process for rigging.
