The Gallery, with exception of the Boutique, displays some of the larger-scale model canoes I have built over the years. Many of these models belong now to private collections, institutions, decorating the conference rooms of corporations or the lobbies of hotel resorts.

I am often asked whether building canoes is a hobby of mine. The answer is no; I have been doing this professionally since 1995. Have I ever sailed on the Hokule'a or any other voyaging canoe? My main interest lies in studying the various types of canoes that have sailed, or are currently sailing, across Oceania. My aim is to replicate these canoes on a smaller scale while adhering to traditional building methods.

As for my favorite canoes, there’s no doubt that the Hokule'a stands out for its elegance, navigational performance, and sturdiness. In second place, I really admire the lines and speed of the Samoan Va’aalo. The Va’aalo is akin to a speedboat, while the Fijian Drua can be compared to a jumbo jet of the sea.

How long does it take for me to build a larger model? The large Fiji Drua I constructed a few years ago for the Polynesian Cultural Center took three months.

The illustration shows two larger models in the stage of completion. One is a double-hull Marquesan canoe, and the model with the red designer sails is a Hokule'a. Building a canoe involves sawing, cutting, and carving pieces from Koa or other types of wood, which creates dust. I perform this task in another workshop equipped with the necessary machinery.

More pictures of my models can be found on Instagram.com/Francispimmel