Importance of canoe

Canoes are the primary means of transportation for Mafatu’s people, and also the vessels they use to go fishing. Mafatu takes a canoe from the beach on Hikueru in order to venture out on his own. It is destroyed on the coral reef that circles the eaters-of-men’s island. Mafatu builds a new canoe from the trunk of a tamanu tree, so that he can return to his home. It is well-made, light and fast, and he is very proud of it.