Focus Hawaii Making of a Camakau
Description
Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii features Dr. Jerry K. Loveland, Director of the Institute for Polynesian Studies, who recounts the multi‑year project to document and reconstruct a traditional Fijian camakau canoe on the remote island of Kambara in Fiji’s Lau Group. Loveland explains the cultural urgency behind preserving canoe‑building knowledge—one of the Polynesians’ most sophisticated material achievements—and describes efforts to collaborate with Fijian chiefs, expert canoe builders, and even the Prime Minister to build an authentically crafted vessel using native hardwoods and traditional materials. He details the filming expeditions, the months‑long on‑site documentation by a young couple, the community’s involvement, and the canoe’s eventual transport to the Polynesian Cultural Center. The discussion also highlights the broader work of the Institute for Polynesian Studies, including publications, films, and conferences dedicated to Pacific scholarship