The Marshall Islands stretch across an enormous area of the Pacific Ocean, so being able to build and sail a fast canoe was one of the most important skills a person could have. Skilled canoe builders chose the best timber carefully and shaped each hull by hand. A large ocean-going walap could carry a whole family and their supplies between atolls.
The outrigger float – a smooth log tied to the side – is the clever secret behind the canoe's balance. Without it, a narrow hull would roll over in the waves. With it, the canoe can lean far into the wind and zip across the water at surprising speed. Marshallese navigators could sail faster than many modern small boats.
Sailing an outrigger takes real skill. The crew moves their weight from side to side to balance the boat, and they read the wind by watching the sail and feeling it on their skin. Young people in the Marshall Islands still learn these skills, keeping an ancient tradition alive.
Every year, canoe races are held around the atolls. Communities come together to cheer, and the fastest crews become local heroes. Building a new walap is also a community event – neighbours help each other, and there is singing and celebration when the canoe is finally launched.