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Bibliography / Directory / Home / McKay Clan / Ship's Store / Introduction / Tradewinds / Maritime Links / The Era of the Clipper Ships Ship Model Page Three
Polynesian and Hawaiian Catamarans
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Hi Don, How cool, that you are adding a 3rd page to your site for ship models. If as you've indicated you want to make this a largely Polynesian ship page, I suggest you start with the oldest of these intrepid vessels, then move ahead in time. When I was first commissioned to build one of these craft, I had no idea where to find their history, hull and rigging schematics ~ so off to the library and the National Geographic I went. From the many articles found in the Geographic on Polynesia, I was surprised to find they are all written by one person, Herb Kawainui Kane, of the big island of Hawaii! A phone call to Herb, explaining my commission for a 'trans-Pacific' catamaran c. 500 B.C. resulted in a wealth of information sent my way. That was 15 years ago. To this day I consider myself very fortunate to have Herb Kane as my mentor. Herb has often remarked that he believes I am the only model shipwright in the world building these remarkable ship models.
This ship model page features Polynesian and Hawaiian catamarans scratch built by model shipwright Steve Priske.
These historical replicas are based on the drawings and paintings of Captain Cook's artists completed on his three voyages to the South Pacific and on the many paintings of Herb Kawainui Kane found in his book Voyagers and his many National Geographic articles.
Polynesian Trans-Pacific Canoe c. 500 B.C.
____________________________ Postscript Memorial Day Weekend - 2003 Hi Don, kudos again for the wonderful job on the new ship model page. Absolutely outstanding. As I mentioned yesterday, I was about to, and have now finished another of these super rare Hawaiian ship models, a Peleleu War Catamaran c.1790. The response the first one built was so strong, I decided to build another one, and plan a twin model display next, featuring the Battle of the Red Mouth Gun.
In doing my research for this upcoming project and the current Peleleu's, here is how Herb Kane describes this historic engagement; "It was the combined fleets of Kaeokulani of Kauai and Kahekili of Maui against Kamehameha of Hawaii. Kaeokulani and Kahekili were driven away with shattered fleets. Both sides however had some firearms, such as swivel guns on some of the larger canoes, but not very many at that time." Were it not for Kamehameha's success in this battle, the modern history of the Hawaiian Islands would indeed be quite different.
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2/21/04 ~ Ship Model Page Five ___________________________
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The first Hawaiian's are believed to have sailed north from the Marquises and Tahitian islands, on huge catamarans around 500 B.C. These incredibly seaworthy double hulled canoes averaged 60 and 100 feet in length, and could carry an entire village of 50 or so, on eight month long voyages. A testament to their seafaring abilities is evident by the fact they repeatedly sailed back on the same courses.
The design of a Hawaiian ocean going canoe is ingenious! There are huge stern pieces, that appeared to me as ornamental, but serve the very necessary function of breaking large following waves that would otherwise swamp the ship and sweep everyone overboard. The uplifted bow sections served to surf the waves ahead, keeping the ship from submarining. And the large epandanas‚ plaited sails, could be moved about the deck, in order to tack and take best advantage of the winds (air to sailors). Attached are the paintings (and models) that inspired the three examples of these intrepid craft built by me over the past 15 years. All are in private collections, one in Maui and one in Kauai overlooking where the actual ships would have sailed. Measuring over 30 inches long, hulls carved from cactus wood, and rigged with translucent wooden sails, these unusual ships make for a wonderful fine art display.
King's Catamaran c.1778 Having been fascinated by the history of Hawaii and the many paintings of Herb Kawainui Kane, I have set myself the goal of building at least one ship model of each type recorded by Captain Cook and other early explorers of the South Pacific. One of my recent creations is this model of the King's Catamaran c.1778. When Captain Cook made his third voyage to the South Pacific, he sailed north of the Marquesas to discover Hawaii ~ the Sandwich Islands. Around 1778, one of Cook's artists recorded a double hulled canoe, measuring about 70 long, with arched cross-beams and a large single sail. This was the catamaran of the King of Hawaii.
It took me over two months to research this unusual ship model, and two weeks to build her. The hulls are carved from Hemlock wood, while the bulwarks, decks, arched cross-beams and paddles are Myrtle wood. The sails are real canvas, painstakingly colored to match the Herb Kane's paintings of this notable vessel.
Attached are photos of the paintings that inspired this model and the model photographed along Cape Arago, Oregon.
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Following a couple years of sea battles, many involving Peleleu War ships, Kamehameha fought his way to the Island of Oahu, with a huge army. For those that have visited the island of Oahu, and taken the drive over the Pali ~ and stopped at the Pali lookout, you may recognize one of Herb Kane's most powerful images, his painting of The Battle of Nu'uanu Pali. Here is how Herb describes this pivotal event: " Kamehameha landed a huge invasion fleet in Oahu in 1795 and skirmished with the Oahu forces as he advanced across the plain where Honolulu now stands. The Oahu army made a stand but was driven up the Nu'uanu Valley in hard fighting. The upper valley terminates at the brink of a thousand foot cliff (pali), and here those of the Oahu army who found no escape along the ridges or down a narrow cliff side trail were driven over the precipice. Both sides used firearms as well as traditional weapons, and included a few foreigners in their ranks. In the narrow upper valley Kamehameha's well disciplined phalanx, a tight formation carrying long lances, could not be stopped."
Don, I'm becoming so fascinated with the history and ships of the Hawaiian's, that in between my models of Clipper's and other square riggers, I now plan to build at least one of each ship described in Herb Kane's book Voyagers. As in the past I've sent you photos of completed vessels, I wanted to give you an idea of what goes into creating these incredibly sea worthy ships. I carve the hulls from solid blocks of Myrtle or Hemlock wood. The hulls of the inter island ships were some what rounded, while the trans-Pacific ships had sharp v bottoms to aid in straight tracking.
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Don, here's the third type of Hawaiian ships I've built, this one a war ship.
Peleleu War Catamaran c.1780 In the late 18th Century King Kamehameha of Hawaii was in a struggle with other Hawaiian kings for control of all the islands. Recent contact with the western world provided these Polynesian rivals with technologies before unknown to them. One of the more intriguing examples of combined Island and Western technologies can be found in the 800 plus Peleleu War Catamarans built by Kamehameha for his conquest of the Hawaiian Islands.
These double hulled war vessels averaged 70 feet in length, were lashed onto curved cross members ( a uniquely Hawaiian feature) and had a swivel gun was mounted on the bows! The hulls were carved from gigantic koa tress while the sails were cut in the square European mode, but made of traditional plaited Elauhala‚ (pandanas leaf) matting.
With these fierce war ships, and the aid of a square rigged ship, the Fair American, Kamehameha soon conquered all the Hawaiian Islands putting them under one king's control for the first time.
I built this model using Myrtle, Hemlock and Mahogany woods. The sails are made from real canvas, while the steering oars and paddles are carved from solid blocks of Myrtle wood. The model is mounted to a Myrtle wood base. King Kamehameha had over 800 of these vessels built around 1780, however, this is the only one constructed in 2002! Inspired by Herb Kane's painting of a Peleleu War Canoe. Steve Priske ~ 2003
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Next, I carve the bow and stern upper sections, and fashion the deck planks, gunwales and side boards from Myrtle wood. There are over 600 lashing points along the hull and deck, which need to be precisely drilled, then rigged with 'hemp' cordage. The most complex part is making the arched cross beams, something uniquely Hawaiian. These are also carved out of solid blocks of Myrtle wood, a process that takes several days, to get them all just right. The masts and spars are also fashioned from solid blocks of Oregon hard woods, and the sails are cut from real canvas, then meticulously painted to match the colors in Herb Kane's paintings of these ships. Once rigged, coated with 4 or 5 coats of Danish Teak Oil, I mount the model to a Myrtle wood base, add a historic brass plaque and mirror display base. Most clients cover these models with a display case, which adds that final touch of a true Museum Quality Ship Model.
The reason I make such a big deal of the Myrtle wood, is because it is native to only right here in Southern Oregon and Israel. Not only is it the most beautiful woods I've ever worked with, but I go to the handful of local Myrtle wood harvesters and select the best pieces available. It is believed the first Myrtle wood trees were brought to this part of the world in the mid 1800's by middle east immigrants, and it exists nowhere else. Don, again thanks for the wonderful work on all the ship model pages. I hope they generate some business for you. I've been telling folks to e-mail you, and to buy a T-shirt. By the way hope you notice I'm proudly wearing my Era of Clipper Ships T-shirt in one of the attached pics. Have a great holiday weekend. Steve. _______________________________ The "Oregon Clipper" Western Shore
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