Relaunching A‘a
The A‘a is a 40-foot koa racing canoe that is currently part of Bishop Museum’s collection. The museum obtained it in 1923 as a gift as part of the Kapiʻolani-Kalanianaʻole Collection.
As the sun rose on 8 November 2025, the A‘a returned to the ocean for the first time in over a decade. Bishop Museum staff and members of the community worked diligently together to prepare the canoe for this event, Hoʻi i ke Kai: Launch of the Aʻa, held at Ke‘ehi Lagoon.
Many hands… A‘a is carried into the water at Ke‘ehi Lagoon. 8 November 2025.
A‘a heads out into Ke‘ehi Lagoon. 8 November 2025.
Canoe clubs with their koa canoes wait to join A‘a in Ke‘ehi Lagoon. 8 November 2025.
A‘a in the early morning light. 8 November 2025.
Leave your footwear on shore! 8 November 2025.
Canoe clubs launch their koa canoes to accompany A‘a around Ke‘ehi Lagoon. 8 November 2025.
Bishop Museum ichthyologist Dr. Brian D. Greene attended the event with his boat Gold Coral. 8 November 2025.
Canoe club members were able to paddle around Ke‘ehi Lagoon in A‘a. 8 November 2025.
A peaceful moment on the water, with part of the Ko‘olau Range in the distance. 8 November 2025.
A‘a with CMA CGM Georgia in the distance. The ship was outbound from Honolulu Harbor. 8 November 2025.
A‘a was “commissioned by Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole and is considered to be the first custom-built, six-seat racing canoe of its kind. The vessel was crafted in 1902 by Henry Weeks in Kailua, Kona. At the time of its creation, A‘a was said to be the most perfectly built and fastest racing canoe in the islands, inspiring all other racing canoes that came after.”1“Bishop Museum Invites Media to Hoʻi i ke Kai: Launch of the Aʻa,” Bishop Museum press release, accessed 1 February 2026, at https://www.bishopmuseum.org/bishop-museum-invites-media-to-ho%CA%BBi-i-ke-kai-launch-of-the-a%CA%BBa/
The canoe is mentioned in early 1900s newspaper articles about the regattas that were held in Honolulu Harbor at the time. The following item from the 16 September 1909 issue of The Hawaiian Star lists A‘a as an entry in both the four- and six-paddle races.
Mahalo to Dr. Greene.
