The canoe is at the center of our sport. While it is no longer made of the increasingly rare koa wood but of fiberglass, we still consider the canoe a living, breathing part of our ohana, for without the canoe there was no life to the club thus no club. A beautiful and cared for canoe gave the club and its paddlers pride.

In this short piece I will try to pass what we have learned about respect for the canoe to our club members. Please read from time to time to remind yourself what the canoe means to you.

- Archie Bie, Kilohana Equipment Management

• The canoe is considered to have a life force. In the ancient times, a canoe was hewn from a living entity, the Koa tree. To harness the positive force of this entity, the canoe must be shown respect by those that paddle the canoe.
• How the canoe performs on the ocean will depend on the mana of the crew. Both crew and canoe are considered as one and one team.
• Kilohana Canoe Club expects the canoe to be treated and accorded respect at all times. Do not take the canoe for granted and never show discourtesy.
• When the canoe is on the beach always point the nose of the canoe toward the ocean, preferrably toward Hawaii.
• Never sit or lean on the canoe when it is not in the water.
• Show care and lift both iako and ama completely off the ground when moving.
• Do not drag or drop the canoe. Set the canoe down gently.
• Never step over the body of the canoe. If you must get to the other side walk around the canoe. This is a gesture of respect and courtesy.
• When calling a canoe call it by its given name.
• When towing a canoe upright the nose should be pointing forward.
• When towing a canoe upside down it is considered retired or stored and is upside down to retain the mana of the canoe. In this case the nose should be pointing toward the rear.