as part of the annual Merrie Monarch Festival celebrating Hawaiian culture. Abigail Pocasangre & Julia Ross In Hawai'i, the art of carving outrigger canoes has traditionally been a male pursuit.

Wendall DeVera, Vietnam veteran, longtime paddler and president of Pu‘ali Koa Kahiko, listens to opening speeches and a blessing of a Hawaiian outrigger canoe on Friday morning in South Maui.