To paddle is to know and respect the ocean. But it is also symbolic of community and teamwork; to build a canoe the old way took hundreds of men and a kahuna just to select and bring the tree down the mountain.
- The paddle is approx .75"/2cm (1.125"/2.6 cm with loop on drop earrings)
- Drop earrings come on sterling silver or GF kidney ear wires
- Sterling earrings have sterling silver posts and bullet clutches
- 14K earrings have 14K gold posts and GF bullet clutches
- Solid low tarnish sterling silver or 14K gold paddles
- Hand-sculpted and cast
- Lead and nickel free
- Made in Hawaii
- You may also like the matching necklace or bracelets
- Interested in 18K gold? Please contact us
About Paddling in Hawaii
The Hawaiians arrived in Hawaii in outrigger canoes (OCs) around 200AD. Some of these held up to 80 people! Throughout their history, OCs remained essential to the Hawaiians for fishing, travel, sport and war. By the time Captain Cook arrived, there were up to 12,000 outrigger canoes for about 225K people, and hei hei wa’a, or canoe racing, was an immensely popular sport with the chiefs. Later, and under the influence of the missionaries, Queen Ka’ahumanu banned the races (there was betting involved!) and it wasn't until King Kalakaua that races were brought back in 1875. Todays paddling traditions are a tribute to the ancient Hawaiians and their way of life. Find out more here and here.
