Hawaiki Nui Va’a Solo 2025

Hawaiki Nui Va’a Solo 2025 brings three days of elite, one‑paddler outrigger racing to Tahiti from Thursday 18 September to Saturday 20 September 2025, marking the fourth edition of this 91‑kilometre V1 marathon. The official organizer and the Tahitian Va’a Federation list the dates and route, confirming a three‑stage challenge starting in Tautira and finishing at Taaone, Pirae, with a final ocean leg toward Moorea that tests even the most seasoned solo paddlers. Tourism and event calendars echo the schedule, positioning the Solo as the September keystone of Tahiti’s va’a season ahead of the iconic V6 Hawaiki Nui Va’a in late October.

Dates, stages, and route

• Dates: Thursday 18 to Saturday 20 September 2025. This is the fourth edition of Hawaiki Nui Va’a Solo on the va’a calendar.
• Stage plan: Three consecutive race days totalling about 91 km. Organizer publications detail a Tautira start on Day 1, a coastal transit past Hitia’a and Pointe Vénus on Day 2, and a long‑form ocean leg on Day 3 departing Hitimahana toward Moorea before the official finish at Taaone, Pirae. Tourism listings describe the segments as 22 km (Tautira–Hitia’a), 27 km (Hitia’a–Pointe Vénus), and 42 km (Hitimahana–Moorea), illustrating the Solo’s coastal and open‑ocean character.
• Start and finish hubs: Start at Tautira, Taiarapu‑Est, a historic cradle of Tahitian paddling; finish operations and ceremonies at Taaone, Pirae, per the federation calendar.

Who races and how categories work

• Core marathon field: The V1 Solo marathon is open to Senior Men as well as Men’s Veterans 40, 50, and 60 classes across all three stages, reflecting the event’s status as a technical and endurance test reserved for experienced paddlers.
• One‑stage options: Additional one‑stage races are offered for women, juniors, and participants who are not contesting the full marathon, letting more divisions experience the Solo atmosphere without committing to all three legs.
• Licensing: A 2025 federal license issued by the Fédération Tahitienne de Va’a is required for competitors, as emphasized by event listings and federation guidance.

How the Solo fits into Tahiti’s va’a season

• September keystone: The V1 Solo precedes the four‑island Hawaiki Nui Va’a V6 (Oct 29–Nov 1, 2025), giving top paddlers a pure solo marathon before shifting to six‑man crews for the archipelago epic. The organizer hub lists Solo in September and V6 at the end of October into early November, with the Hawaiki Nui Sprint week in December.
• Endurance ladder: Many elite V6 paddlers sharpen individual technique, tracking, and surf reading in the Solo before team racing, making the September event a bellwether for V6 form.

What makes the course demanding

• Mixed water: Day 1’s coastal stretch out of Tautira introduces currents and backwash along the east coast; Day 2 around Hitia’a to Pointe Vénus adds surf zones and trade‑wind chop; Day 3’s long push from Hitimahana toward Moorea is an exposed ocean leg where swell direction, wind, and fatigue define outcomes. Tourism descriptions and 2024 race media underline heat management and flat‑to‑choppy mixes as decisive factors.
• Climate factor: September heat and humidity raise hydration and fueling stakes; veteran racers pace conservatively on Day 1 and Day 2 to preserve for the longest leg.

Spectator guide

• Best viewing points:
• Tautira village for the ceremonial start and coastal send‑off on Thursday.
• Pointe Vénus on Friday to watch athletes arrive along Mahina’s black‑sand shore.
• Taaone, Pirae on Saturday for finish‑line tension, ceremonies, and community celebrations.
• On‑water etiquette: Support boats and followers should respect exclusion zones and federation rules; coastal spectators should heed marshal guidance at beach control points.

Registration, logistics, and rules

• Entry and licensing: Registration is handled by the organizing committee ACOHV with oversight from the federation; a valid 2025 FT Va’a license is mandatory. The Solo hub provides category‑specific entry links and race information.
• Safety and support: The Solo is run with course boats, medical cover, and marshal teams across all three legs; athletes must comply with equipment and safety requirements in the race instructions.
• Age classes: Senior Men plus Veteran Men 40/50/60 for the full marathon; separate single‑stage races exist for women, juniors, and para va’a divisions on program day, as listed on the Solo site.

Travel planning for visitors

• Getting there: Fly into Faa’a International Airport (PPT). Tautira is roughly two hours by road from Papeete; Pirae sits east of central Papeete, making it convenient for finish‑day spectators.
• Where to stay: Base in Papeete/Pirae or Mahina for proximity to Friday and Saturday viewing; consider a Tautira overnight or early‑morning drive for Thursday’s start.
• What to bring: Sun protection, water, and light clothing; a hat and compact binoculars help for distant views on open beaches like Pointe Vénus.

Culture and context

• Va’a heritage: Outrigger paddling is a living expression of Polynesian seamanship. The Solo magnifies that tradition by reducing the craft to a single paddler and a V1, turning navigation, reading the ocean, and personal grit into the decisive variables.
• Community pride: Starts and finishes become village moments, with food stalls and families lining shorelines; the Solo’s staging in Taiarapu‑Est and Pirae roots the event in communities that nurture young paddlers.

Sample three‑day itinerary

• Thu 18 Sep: Sunrise drive to Tautira; watch the launch; lunch in Taiarapu‑Est; return via coastal viewpoints.
• Fri 19 Sep: Morning at Pointe Vénus for arrivals; afternoon Papeete market visit; evening debrief events where posted.
• Sat 20 Sep: Finish‑line atmosphere at Taaone, Pirae; medal ceremonies and photos; sunset promenade in central Papeete.

For aspiring participants

• Training blocks: Prepare for heat, chop, and back‑to‑back days; simulate cumulative fatigue with three‑day build sessions; practice hydration and fueling strategies suited to September conditions.
• Equipment: Ensure V1 set‑up for stability and glide in variable seas; rehearse remounts and surf management; comply with federation safety gear.
• Paperwork: Secure the 2025 FT Va’a license well ahead of registration cutoffs; monitor ACOHV communications for technical meetings and course bulletins.

Verified details at a glance

• Event: Hawaiki Nui Va’a Solo — 4th edition, V1 marathon in three stages.
• Dates: 18–20 September 2025.
• Route highlights: Tautira start; segments via Hitia’a and Pointe Vénus; long ocean leg to Moorea; official finish and ceremonies at Taaone, Pirae.
• Categories: Full three‑day marathon for Senior Men and Men Veterans 40/50/60; single‑stage options for women, juniors, veterans, para va’a, and fun races.
• Organizer and federation: ACOHV with the Fédération Tahitienne de Va’a; license required; safety and support coordinated across all legs.

Book flights, set an alarm for Tautira’s start, and plan beachside vantage points from Pointe Vénus to Taaone. Whether cheering at the finish or dreaming of lining up in a V1, Hawaiki Nui Va’a Solo 2025 is a pure expression of Tahitian paddling—three uncompromising days where ocean knowledge, endurance, and heart decide the story.