Well after corresponding with the Macronesian National Archives (MNA) we may have found the answer in the legend of Huli Pkaba.

Ever wondered why when an outrigger flips over it’s called a huli?

Well after corresponding with the Macronesian National Archives (MNA) we may have found the answer in the legend of Huli Pkaba.

Huli apparently lived around the turn of the century on what is believed to be a central Pacific island called Moahiti.

The story goes that he defied his cultural heritage, his upbringing and his genes to be the only one on the island that couldn’t stay upright on a canoe.

After only a few strokes over he’d go. He simply couldn’t balance.

Whenever the splash of an overturning canoe echoed around the lagoon the locals just rolled their eyes and said there goes Huli.

The same thing happened in the six-man canoes. Whenever Huli Pkaba was in your canoe you just knew you’d be going swimming. As the crew came up for air the collective cry of ‘ohhhhh Huuuuuliiiiiiii’ was invariably heard.

Before long any time a canoe went over it was known as doing a ‘Huli’.

Surprisingly Huli Pkaba’s lack of balance had one important and valuable spin-off for Moahiti’s inhabitants. Through seeing all sorts of methods of righting a canoe in all sorts of conditions, and with all sorts of crews, Huli became quite the expert.

Even Moahiti’s best paddlers ultimately did a ‘Huli’ in tough conditions all while trying to keep the ama light in races against neighbouring islands. Recognising Huli’s expertise in the area he became keenly sought after to teach the best way to safely and quickly get an outrigger going again.

Huli always started out by saying the number one thing to remember when canoe is going to overturn is always, and he emphasised always, roll with the canoe and let your head go under the water.

“If you don’t, and you don’t have a cushioning fro like me, then you’ll almost certainly get knocked on the head by the iaku.”

In honour of Huli’s contribution to the science of recovering from an overturned canoe the PDs have wwweloped a new way to remember the way we do it known as the ‘Mr Pkaba Method’.

M is for Mates – Are they ok?
R is for Racking your paddle – Stow in the covers or pass it to seat 1 or 6 if not using covers

P is for Places – Everyone go to their places… 1 & 6 to the ends, 3 & 4 over hull, 2 & 5 on ama/iakus
K is for Kanu – in windy conditions orientate the canoe parallel to the wind
A is for All together – on the steer’s 3-2-1 call roll the canoe over
B is for Bail – jump in seats 3 and 4 and bail as quick as you can
A is for Ama – hold onto the ama to minimise the chance of another huli