Overview
The Samoan va‘aalo was excellent for chasing the large schools of fish that fed at the water’s surface.
Most va‘aalo had two built-in fishing rod supports – one on the outrigger and another on the stern (back) cover.
It took two people to operate a va‘aalo. Rather than using a sail, they usually paddled the boat, and could reach impressive speeds.
Building a va‘aalo
First, the tufuga fau va‘a (master canoe builder) laid a keel on the ground. He then placed more planks on top of it, building them up in tiers.
The lower planks were crucial, as they formed the foundation lines of the va‘aalo. The tufuga would give these planks names, so that he and his work party of men could refer to them easily.
Planks and sections of the va‘aalo were lashed together with ‘afa (coconut fibre cord). But first the tufuga put heated breadfruit gum on the joins to waterproof them.
The planks fitted together exactly, and were fastened in place so that no lashings were visible on the outside of the vessel.
End of an era
In the 1920s, plank-built va‘aalo began to be replaced by dugout versions. This was possibly because sharper steel tools became available, making it easier to carve a good, light hull.
Today, va‘aalo have mostly been replaced by aluminium dinghies and double-hulled craft called ‘alia.