Accompanying sign:
Lawai`a
Fisherman
a Hawaiian Fishing Canoe
Crafted by Tay Perry
Donated to OCC by Michael Haig
The canoe was originally crafted for the Hawaii Woodshow in 2001 by Tay Perry. All of the woods used are grown in Hawaii. The materials are:
Hull: Koa
Seats: Kamani
Manu: Milo
Wae: Uhi Uhi
Iako: Hau
Ama: Ulu
Stands: Lama
Base: Mango
Dowels: Bamboo
The canoe is a four-person canoe and is six feet long. The intended scale is 1:4 which would indicate a 24 foot canoe. The name Lawai’a translates as Fisherman. It was intended to represent a typical Hawaiian fishing canoe.
After the Hawaii Wood show, Tay brought it to the OCC and displayed it in the Ka Mo`i Boathouse. Member Michael Haig saw the canoe and offered to buy it from Tay and donate it to the Club for permanent display. “For me it was like selling it and also getting to keep it,” Perry said. “For the Outrigger it was a valuable acquisition to keep for posterity.”
The canoe has appeared in many exhibitions involving Hawaiian canoes since it was built for various charitable locations in Honolulu. Outrigger has loaned the piece for these purposes. The canoe current is displayed atop the east wall of the Koa Lanai.