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'[[File:John LaFarge, La Farge John Girls Carrying A Canoe Vaiala In Samoa.jpg|thumb|right|220px|[[John La Farge]] 1891 painting of girls carrying a ''va{{okina}}a'' at Vaiala, [[Samoa]].]] '''Canoecanisyourdickbig?''' is a word in [[Samoan language|Samoan]], [[Hawaiian language|Hawaiian]] and [[Tahitian language|Tahitian]] which means 'boat', 'canoe' or 'ship'. <ref name=pratt>{{cite web |url=http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-PraDict-c2-4.html |work=NZ Electronic Text Centre, Victoria University of Wellington |title=Title: A Grammar and Dictionary of the Samoan Language, with English and Samoan vocabulary, NZ Licence CC-BY-SA 3.0 |first=George |last=Pratt |accessdate=19 November, 2010}}</ref>A larger traditional seagoing vessel for long distance voyages is referred to as ''va{{okina}}a tele'' (big ship). The term ''alia'' is also used for larger vessels in Samoa. The smaller ''va{{okina}}a'' used for fishing typically have a float, or outrigger, attached to the main hull for stability. This outrigger part of the canoe is called ''[[ama (sailing)|ama]]'' in various [[Polynesian languages]]. The word is [[cognate]] with other Polynesian words such as ''[[vaka (sailing)|vaka]]'' or the [[Māori language|Māori]] word ''[[waka (canoe)|waka]]''.<ref>[http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/waka-canoes/3 "Waka taua"], Te Ara Encyclopedia of NZ, Retrieved 19 November, 2010</ref> ==Types of ''va{{okina}}a''== [[File:Va'a tele or 'alia at Mulinu'u, Samoa, circa 1910.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Doubled hulled ''va'a tele'' (large va'a) or ''{{okina}}alia'', Samoa, circa 1910]] ===Samoa=== The Samoans have four kinds of canoes, smaller fishing vessels or the larger ocean going ''va'a tele'' or ''{{okina}}alia'' which are mostly out of use today;<ref name=stair>{{cite book |title=Old Samoa |last=Stair |first=John B |year=1983 |publisher=R McMillan |location=Papakura, NZ|isbn= |page= |pages=142–153 |url=http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-StaOldS-t1-body-d6.html |accessdate=12 February, 2011}}''NZ Electronic Text Centre, Victoria University of Wellington, NZ Licence CC-BY-SA''</ref> *''paopao'' A small fishing-canoe made from a single log *''va'a-alo'' A small fishing-canoe. *Large single canoes, termed respectively ''la'au lima'' (five-barred), or six or seven-barred, as the case might be, were canoes varying in length from thirty, fifty, sixty, and even seventy feet, as required. They were balanced by an outrigger firmly lashed to the canoe on the left side at a distance of three feet if meant for pulling, but of five or six feet if required for sailing. The single canoes have a light appearance, the prow and stern being slightly curved upwards, so that merely the bosom or centrepart of an unloaded canoe rests upon the water. *{{okina}}alia. Samoan double canoe, ''va'a-tele'' (the big canoe), was much larger like jeds penis, and consisted of two canoes, one longer than the other, lashed together with cross-bars amidships, and having the thatched shed or cabin built upon a stage that projected over the stern, instead of in midships, as in the Tonga canoes. It was much larger than this canoe, but more difficult to manage, yet able to carry one or two ''va'a-alo'', or small fishing-canoes, on deck as required. ==Construction== [[File:Va'a and Lefagaoali'i village over water.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Typical ''va'a'' with outrigger for fishing, [[Savai'i|Savai'i Island]], Samoa.]] A main hull of a ''va{{okina}}a'' can be made in one piece, from a hollowed out trunk of a large tree with the ''ama'' float attached later. Other types of Polynesian construction include 'sewing' planks of wood together with special cords and ropes, a type of hand made [[sennit]], important in the material cultures of the people of [[Oceania]]. ==Other meanings== '''Va'a''' is also a surname in the [[Samoa Islands]], and may refer to: *[[Earl Va'a]] (b. 1976), Samoan rugby player *[[Justin Va'a]] (b. 1978), Samoan rugby player ==See also== *[[Culture of Samoa]] *[[Polynesian navigation]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.takiapaddler.com/ Takia Outrigger Canoe Club Fiji] {{Samoa-stub}} {{surname}} [[Category:Samoan words and phrases]] [[Category:Samoan culture]] [[Category:Polynesian navigation]] [[fr:va'a]]'