Focus Hawaii Making of a Camakau

Authors

• Lance Chase
• Dr. Jerry K. Loveland

Files

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

Length of Video

00:32:57

File Size

262.3MB

Archives Call Number

22.FH

Air Date

10-16-1986

Keywords

Lance Chase, Focus Hawaii, Jerry Loveland, Institute for Polynesian Studies, camakau, Fijian canoe, canoe‑building traditions, Kambara island, Lau Group Fiji, Polynesian Cultural Center, Vesey tree, Pacific studies, cultural preservation, documentary project, Polynesian navigation.

Recommended Citation

Chase, Lance and Loveland, Dr. Jerry K., "Focus Hawaii Making of a Camakau" (1986). Focus Hawaii. 71.
https://digitalcollections.byuh.edu/focushawaii/71