Hawaiki Nui Vaʻa (Canoe Race)

Hawaiki Nui Vaʻa: The Iconic Outrigger Canoe Marathon in French Polynesia

Hawaiki Nui Vaʻa is French Polynesia’s most iconic outrigger canoe marathon, a three-day ocean-and-lagoon race across the Society Islands that showcases elite paddling, island pride, and deep Polynesian seafaring heritage. Typically held around late October to early November during the first week of the October school holidays, it links Huahine, Raiatea, Taha’a, and Bora Bora, creating a moving sports festival that’s as thrilling to watch as it is meaningful to the islands.

What is Hawaiki Nui Vaʻa (Canoe Race) in Tahiti?

Hawaiki Nui Vaʻa is a major vaʻa (outrigger canoe) race for six-person canoes, widely recognized as the most important outrigger canoe race in French Polynesia. Tahiti Tourisme describes it as a unique marathon event with hundreds of six-man crews from French Polynesia and a few foreign crews, raced on open sea and in the lagoon.

For an islands audience, this is a perfect event because it’s both sport and culture. You’re seeing a tradition that’s tied to Polynesian navigation, community identity, and physical excellence, played out on water so blue it looks unreal even in photos.

When Hawaiki Nui Vaʻa is Typically Held

Hawaiki Nui Vaʻa takes place each year during the first week of the school holidays in October, which usually places the event in late October, sometimes extending into early November depending on the calendar. Tahiti Tourisme explicitly states that the event happens during that first holiday week and is raced over three days in staged format.

This timing is excellent for travelers because it lands in a shoulder-season window for many international routes. It’s also a time when the islands feel lively with local travel, which means more atmosphere on the docks, beaches, and finish-line celebrations.

Where the Race Happens: Huahine, Raiatea, Taha’a, and Bora Bora

Hawaiki Nui Vaʻa is not a single-location stadium race. It’s a multi-island journey that turns the lagoon and open ocean into the course.

Tahiti Tourisme describes the race as 80 miles in total, split into three stages linking Huahine to Raiatea, Raiatea to Taha’a, and finally Taha’a to Bora Bora. The same official description lists the places of the event as Huahine, Raiatea, Taha’a, and Bora Bora, reinforcing that the “venue” is the entire island chain.

For visitors, the best viewing strategy is to choose one island base and experience the excitement there, rather than trying to chase all stages unless you’re already planning an inter-island itinerary.

Why Hawaiki Nui Vaʻa Matters: Polynesian Identity on the Water

Vaʻa is not just a sport in French Polynesia, it’s cultural memory in motion. A Tahitian Vacations guide describes the vaʻa as so culturally significant it has been adopted as a symbol of French Polynesia and even appears on its flag, linking canoe heritage to identity.

The race also connects to the idea of “Hawaiki,” the ancestral homeland referenced throughout Polynesia. That same guide calls it one of the largest and most grueling canoe racing competitions, reinforcing the event’s prestige and the reason it draws such intense local attention.

What to Expect: Race Format, Categories, and the Spectator Experience

Three Stages, One Epic Storyline

Hawaiki Nui Vaʻa is raced in three stages, with the longest feeling like an endurance battle against wind, swell, heat, and strategy. Tahiti Tourisme explains the course is raced in three stages and that only senior and veteran men complete all three stages, while other categories compete around Raiatea waters or on selected stages.

Who Competes

The event includes multiple categories and attracts large participation. Tahiti Tourisme notes there are nine categories and that hundreds of crews participate, including some foreign teams.

What It Feels Like to Watch

The best part as a visitor is how close and emotional the finish moments can be, especially in lagoon areas where crowds gather near the shore. You’ll hear drumming, cheering, and the callouts of supporters as boats surge in, creating a full-body atmosphere that feels more like a community celebration than a quiet sporting event.

The Best Ways to Experience Hawaiki Nui Vaʻa as a Traveler

Choose Your Base: Bora Bora for the Finale, Raiatea for the “Sailing Heart,” Huahine for the Start

• Bora Bora is ideal if you want the finishing drama and the beach-and-celebration vibe.
• Raiatea is a strategic pick because the race passes through it and many related activities and categories are connected to its waters.
• Huahine is perfect for travelers who love beginnings, pre-race tension, and seeing crews set off into open water.

Make It a Water-Front Day

Arrive early, bring shade and water, and treat it like a beach day with a sporting climax. If you’re staying in Bora Bora or Raiatea, ask your hotel or host where the best local viewing zones are, because residents often know the spots with the best sightlines and atmosphere.

Practical Travel Tips for the Race Week

Book Inter-Island Logistics Early

Hawaiki Nui Vaʻa is a major local event and it happens across several islands. Since Tahiti Tourisme highlights it as one of the most important outrigger canoe races with hundreds of teams, demand for flights, ferries, and rooms can rise quickly in host islands.

Pack for Sun, Salt, and Long Days Outside

Bring:

• Reef-safe sunscreen and a hat.
• A light rain layer, because island weather can shift quickly.
• A dry bag or waterproof pouch for phone and documents if you plan to watch near the water.

Respect the Athletes and the Islands

This is a competitive endurance event. Give athletes space near launch and finish zones, follow local instructions, and keep viewing areas clean, especially on beaches and lagoon edges.

Pricing: What Does It Cost to Attend?

Hawaiki Nui Vaʻa is a public sporting event, and watching from public shorelines is generally accessible without a ticket. Your main costs will be travel, accommodation on the host islands, and optional boat excursions if you want to watch from the water.

If you are traveling as a paddler, entry rules and registration are managed by the organizers listed by Tahiti Tourisme. For spectators, the best approach is to budget for transport and choose an island base that matches your preferred experience.

Verified Information at a Glance

• Event name: Hawaiki Nui Vaʻa
• Event category: Sports and cultural event (outrigger canoe / vaʻa marathon race).
• Typically held: First week of October school holidays, often late October and sometimes into early November depending on the calendar.
• Duration: Three days, raced in three stages.
• Locations / route: Huahine → Raiatea, Raiatea → Taha’a, Taha’a → Bora Bora.
• Distance: About 80 miles total.
• Participants: Hundreds of six-man crews from French Polynesia plus some foreign crews; nine categories, with senior and veteran men completing all three stages.
• Pricing: Public viewing is generally accessible without a ticket; costs mainly depend on travel and optional boat viewing experiences.

Plan your late-October island escape around Hawaiki Nui Vaʻa, pick your viewing island, and spend a day on the waterfront cheering as the vaʻa surge across lagoon blues and open-ocean swells, because there’s no better way to understand Polynesia than watching its most legendary canoe race carry tradition, teamwork, and island pride straight into the finish.