Hawaiiki Nui
The Hawaiki Nui Va’a race is on. From Huahine to Raiatea, then Tahaa, and finally Bora Bora. In three days, the racers cover 130km in the open sea. They hop from island to island, until they arrive at the finish line.
From the tales of South Pacific seafarers, a modern-day competition is born. In the Leeward Islands, west of Tahiti, thousands of outrigger canoe racers gather every year to test their strength in one of the most spectacular open sea competitions in the world.
Every minute of the Hawaiki Nui Va’a race boasts excitement, suspense, and stunning scenery. Racers paddle 44km from Huahine to Raiatea on the first day, before plunging head-long into a speed race inside the lagoon between Raiatea and Tahaa on the second day. The third day, the 52km race across the ocean ends at Pointe Matira in Bora Bora. This is where you can witness the best part of the race – the final approach to the finish line and, after the race, the Polynesian style celebration, with lots of dancing to the pulsating drumbeat and drinking into the night.
The Hawaiki Nui Va’a is also an honour to the Polynesian seafaring tradition. The va’a, or outrigger canoe in Tahitian, was once the basic vessel for sea navigation and recreation in the region. Today, it has become a sport that attracts a horde of aspiring racers and curious spectators from all over the world.
