An original etching after a drawing by Amiral Paris. The Caroline sailing canoes were used for long sea journeys and interisland communication and were the real "flying proas" The flying proa in fact is a single outrigger, save that the outrigger connection is more complex and that, in addition, the canoe possesses a counterpoise platform built outboard on special booms projecting from the site opposite the outrigger. This second platform is termed the lee platform. The canoe was equipped with steering paddles and a quarter rudder which can be seen on the back of a native.

This photo illustrates a Micronesian canoe, or "flying proa" from the Chuuk archipelago, which is part of central Carolines. However, the outrigger framework, which on this canoe seems to be highly curved, would indicate a Marshallese influence. The outrigger framework on typical Carolines "flying proas" do curve only gently downward towards their outer ends. However the canoe displays a distinctive feature of some Carolines proas, namely the bow and stern of the hull curving upwards in a peculiar and characteristic fork.

By all accounts this looks to be a "qao" war canoe from Santa Isabel, in the Western part of the Island's archipelago. Some of those beautifully decorated canoes could transport up to 50 warriors

This extremely rare post-card of a Solomon Islands head hunting canoe from Florida, south of Santa Isabel islands, shows the beautifully decorated front of bow . Those were plank-built canoes with both ends alike and rising into a high peak ornamented with "Ovulum" shells along its outer edge and along the inner edge. One needs to note, right at the front and at water level of the canoe, the stylised carving in the form of a human face called "Nguzuguzu" or also "totoisu". Kind of a talisman to frighten the enemies and to bring good luck.

The Lakatoi canoe is the most characteristic craft of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The name is derived from laka (Motu form of wa, waka, waga etc, and toi (Motu form for tolu, three) A lakatoi is composed of three or more “asi”, which are made of a soft-wood tree (ilimo) of great size that grows close by rivers in their low alluvial reaches in the Papuan Gulf district. The “asi” are secured together by numerous cross beams which are tied by lashings that pass through square holes cut in their gunwales. Over these beams a large platform or deck (ilaha) is constructed; this must be made very strong as it has to stand the strain of the great waves of the Gulf. The platform extends beyond the “asi” especially fore and aft. In 1884 the largest lakatoi which arrived at Port Moresby from the Gulf consisted of 14 “asi” and measured 59 by 51 feet.

Very rare post-card . Note the color of the gunwales and tops, which were usually cut and carved out of Ahakea wood, which is light yellow in color.

This scene , whith Diamond Head as background, is illustrative of the evolution of the Hawaiian fishing canoe, towards the twentees, into elongated 4 and 6 seater surfing and racing canoes.

War canoes (waka taua) were the largest and finest canoes ever possessed by the Maori. Much labor was expended upon their construction and their ornamentation with superb carving. They were made from the toughest and largest timber available, some exceeding 100 feet in length

This is an extremely rare post-card dating to the twentees showing very long outrigger canoes on a beach, covered with palm leafs.

This is a rare post-card from around 1915 illustrating a Hawaiian fisherman using a harpoon to catch fish.