Hawaiians are simply obliged to erect a monument to the paddle and canoe in the near future. Unless, of course, it already exists in one of the many local villages with the melodious name of Kekaha, Lanikai or Waimanoolo.
Without this water sports equipment, the brave Polynesians would not have discovered Hawaii in the 6th-7th centuries AD (the exact date is still unknown). To this day, rowing on various watercraft, but especially on 6-seater stable canoes, is one of the most popular sports in these parts.
At first, a boat trip along a picturesque beach may seem like a fun activity, but only until you stop worrying about all the muscles in your back and arms. And this is provided that you, like me, quickly master the technique of rowing – otherwise there is a risk of getting exhausted after the first hundred measures of the distance.
None of the locals are cool about this sport. On the contrary, each race is equated to a good workout with iron in the gym, and various competitions are also regularly held.
The only water sport that can compete in popularity with canoeing is surfing. The arguments of the latter are relevant only in the winter months, when the waves on the famous Banzai Pipeline beach are high enough to hold competitions.