Ancient Polynesian voyagers used outrigger canoes made of koa wood to traverse thousands of miles of open ocean, discovering and populating the Hawaiian Islands centuries ago. According to historians, their first stop in this isolated archipelago was South Point on Hawai‘i Island. Outrigger canoes typically feature one or more lateral support floats known as ama (or outriggers), which, in single-hull canoes, is fastened to the port side of the hull. Larger canoes may use a single-ama, double-ama, or a double-hulled canoe configuration. Sailing canoes, small and large, are also part of the mix and, as their name implies, are outfitted with a single mast and sail. Compared to other types of canoes, outrigger canoes are quite fast and are capable of being paddled with a single-sided blade or sailed in rough water. Today, the traditional Hawaiian sport of outrigger canoe racing has spread worldwide, with competitions hosted in countries with and without a history of outrigger canoe voyaging, as well as various locations across the U.S. mainland. In fact, outrigger canoe racing is the official state team sport of Hawai‘i and an interscholastic high school sport. A variety of outrigger canoe types exist; however, it’s typically the OC1, OC2, OC3, OC4, and OC6 (with the respective number of paddlers using a single-hull outrigger canoe) made of high-tech, lightweight materials that are used in competitions today. Major races in Hawai‘i are held annually each fall and include the Moloka‘i Hoe men’s race from the island of Moloka‘i to O‘ahu across the notoriously rough Ka‘iwi Channel, Na Wahine O Ke Kai (the same race for women), and the Queen Lili‘uokalani Race held in Kona.