Faʻafaite

High school (ages 12+)
Transportation

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/fa-afaite

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the vessel classification?Traditional Polynesian outrigger sailing canoe
2. What is the socio-economic functions?Facilitated inter-island trade, cultural exchange, political alliances, fishing, and community sustenance
3. How do Faʻafaite stay stable in rough seas?They have an outrigger design with a main hull and a float connected by booms. This keeps the canoe from tipping over even when waves are big.
4. What materials are used to build a Faʻafaite?The hull is made from hardwoods like tamanu and ifilele. The sail is woven from pandanus leaves or tapa cloth, and everything is lashed with strong natural fibers.

Polynesian Wayfinding: An ancient system of navigation using natural cues to travel vast distances across the Pacific Ocean.
Outrigger System: A stabilizing float attached to a canoe by booms, enhancing seaworthiness and preventing capsizing.
Maritime Technology: The engineering and design principles applied to watercraft and seafaring activities.