SAVED BY CANOE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17573, 25 June 1925, Page 12

SAVED BY CANOE.

WHEN MODERN MEANS FAILED. THRILLING RESCUE IN HAWAII. (Special to “Star.") nON’OJ.UJ.U, May 20. The seaworthiness of the native Hawaiian outrigger canoe was again demonstrated recently, when three residents of Honolulu manoeuvred one of the craft, to tho open sea to rescue two occupants of a modern high-powered launch which had become helpless in a heavy sea. The launch’s engine had. become stalled while the boat was attempting to cross the channel to La haina, Maui, with a load of the day’s newspapers for men and officers of the United States fleet, anchored in the Laha ina roadstead. The launch was tossed on the waves for fourteen hours before the distress signals of its occupants were noticed by the men on the beach. Launching file outrigger, the rescuers relieved the boat with little, difficulty, despite the heavy sea. The feat recalls Hawaiian historv, which tells of how the, first people came to Hawaii from the south seas in a fleet, made up of outrigger canoes. The canoes were made from hollowed logs supported on each side by well shaped timber or “outriggers” to steady them against heavy ocean swells. Before the discovers- of Hawaii by the whites, history and legend say, the natives carried on commerce between the different islands of the. group in outriggers, as well as made long sea voyages.