Bringing Back the Forgotten Art of Traditional Boat Building in the Pacific Territory

This past October on the island of Lifou, a traditional twin-hulled vessel was set afloat in the lagoon – a simple gesture that represented a profoundly important moment.

It was the first launch of a traditional canoe on Lifou in living memory, an gathering that brought together the island’s primary tribal groups in a exceptional demonstration of solidarity.

Seafarer and campaigner Aile Tikoure was the driving force behind the launch. For the previous eight-year period, he has led a project that aims to revive ancestral vessel construction in New Caledonia.

Numerous traditional boats have been crafted in an project designed to reconnect local Kanak populations with their oceanic traditions. Tikoure states the boats also promote the “beginning of dialogue” around sea access rights and conservation measures.

International Advocacy

In July, he travelled to France and met President Emmanuel Macron, pushing for marine policies shaped with and by local tribes that recognise their relationship with the sea.

“Previous generations always navigated the ocean. We forgot that knowledge for a period,” Tikoure says. “Now we’re finding it again.”

Heritage boats hold profound traditional meaning in New Caledonia. They once stood for movement, interaction and clan alliances across islands, but those practices faded under colonial rule and missionary influences.

Cultural Reclamation

The initiative commenced in 2016, when the New Caledonia heritage ministry was looking at how to reintroduce traditional canoe-building skills. Tikoure partnered with the administration and two years later the vessel restoration program – known as Project Kenu Waan – was launched.

“The most difficult aspect wasn’t wood collection, it was convincing people,” he explains.

Program Successes

The initiative sought to revive heritage voyaging practices, educate new craftspeople and use boat-building to strengthen traditional heritage and inter-island cooperation.

To date, the group has created a display, released a publication and supported the construction or restoration of approximately thirty vessels – from the southern region to the northeastern coast.

Material Advantages

Unlike many other oceanic nations where deforestation has reduced lumber availability, New Caledonia still has appropriate timber for carving large hulls.

“There, they often use marine plywood. Locally, we can still craft from natural timber,” he states. “That represents all the difference.”

The canoes built under the initiative integrate Polynesian hull design with Melanesian rigging.

Academic Integration

Since 2024, Tikoure has also been instructing seafaring and traditional construction history at the educational institution.

“For the first time ever these topics are taught at graduate studies. It’s not theory – it’s something I’ve lived. I’ve crossed oceans on traditional boats. I’ve cried tears of joy while accomplishing this.”

Pacific Partnerships

He traveled with the crew of the traditional boat, the Fijian canoe that traveled to Tonga for the regional gathering in 2024.

“Throughout the region, through various islands, it’s the same movement,” he states. “We’re restoring the sea collectively.”

Governance Efforts

This past July, Tikoure journeyed to Nice, France to introduce a “Traditional understanding of the sea” when he had discussions with Macron and government representatives.

Before state and foreign officials, he pushed for collaborative ocean management based on Kanak custom and community involvement.

“You have to involve local populations – most importantly fishing communities.”

Contemporary Evolution

Currently, when mariners from various island nations – from Fiji, the Micronesian region and New Zealand – arrive in Lifou, they study canoes collectively, refine the construction and finally voyage together.

“We don’t just copy the ancient designs, we help them develop.”

Integrated Mission

In his view, instructing mariners and advocating environmental policy are connected.

“The core concept concerns public engagement: what permissions exist to move across the sea, and what authority governs which activities take place in these waters? The canoe serve as a method to start that conversation.”