Designated as the state’s official team sport, OUTRIGGER CANOE RACING draws hundreds of paddlers to clubs throughout the Hawaiian Islands. However, it is more than a popular activity — it’s a culturally significant link to the legendary seafaring traditions of Hawai‘i.
Hawai‘i’s first settlers arrived aboard DOUBLE-HULLED SAILING CANOES using only the stars and flight patterns of birds to guide them. They found the Hawaiian Islands more than 1,000 years before European explorers arrived in 1778.
Typically, canoes were used for interisland travel, fishing and sport. Today, they’re primarily used for fun.
A modern-day outrigger is powered by six paddlers in a 45-foot fiberglass, single-or double-hulled canoe. Many hotels offer lessons, or seek out a company to experience this thrilling ride.