WHAT WE DO

Heart of the Waʻa Project’s mission is to capture, preserve, and inspire the cultural documentation of Hawaiian outrigger canoe racing by focusing on stories from key kūpuna and their respective canoe clubs on Hawaiʻi Island. It attempts to capture intangible cultural heritage: the knowledge, dedication, and passion for paddling that cultivated and formed the sport as we know it.

Our cultural documentation consists of photographs and transcribed audio-recorded interviews with kūpuna. We have attended regatta races, long distance races, club events, and canoe carvings resulting in over 330 hours of interviews and over 40,000 photographs. The project’s core depends on community involvement from start to finish as we continue to collect and edit stories. This documentation will result in a bilingual (Hawaiian and English) book that shares the stories of our kūpuna in association with their canoe clubs. In preserving a snapshot in time, we offer future generations a unique glimpse into the knowledge of their kūpuna, and the spirit of our canoe clubs.

Check out our website or follow our journey on Facebook and Instagram. We will post regular updates as we dive deeper into the next phase of editing. Contact us if you have input, questions, or would like to support our cultural documentation!

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FOLLOW OUR JOURNEY @heartofthewaa

CONTACT

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT US PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL. WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!

FOR INQUIRIES

SUPPORT CULTURAL DOCUMENTATION

As we enter the next phase of our project we humbly ask for your support. Contributions will go towards publishing expenses and translator fees. 

To make a tax-deductible donation mail a check to Keauhou Canoe Club. Please write Lorrin Ching Legacy Fund in the memo section. You will receive a statement to keep for your records.

Mail to Keauhou Canoe Club 

P.O. Box 390755

Keauhou, Hawaii 96739

**Please remember to write in the memo: 

Lorrin Ching Legacy Fund

We appreciate your support!

FOR INQUIRIES