Thamaku is a less than half size replica of a design of outrigger canoe commonly seen all across the Pacific islands.
This design of craft was used as a general purpose vessel with the main hull constructed of canvas stretched across a timber frame.
The replica is around 10ft 6ins (3.23m) length but full size craft can be between 40 and 50ft (12.3m – 15.4m) in length, although larger boats of 100ft (30m) are not unknown, the latter requiring a crew of 40 to paddle them. Part of the Royal Collection, it was presented to HRH Prince Edward in 1971 as a birthday present from the people of the island of Lakebe in the Lau group of islands of East Fiji.
