Preparation
The Kapingamarangi are extremely community oriented. The order of command begins with the chief and moves from there. Still, whenever a question was asked of Andrew Lucky concerning the community he would usually consult with other members of the community before replying. Historically, the importance of the canoe to the Kapingamarangi was great. Traditionally, a house was built without fanfare, whereas the construction of a canoe was a community event blessed by religious and political leaders alike.
Locating A Master Carver
Ideally, the process of choosing a master carver should be done
by the chief of the community. His choice is usually arrived at
through community discussion and is, by design, supported by the
group. Should any problems arise during the project, the chief
and the community are there to help solve them. For the Kapingamarangi,
a canoe is not built by one man, but by the community. Allowing
the community to lead with choosing the builders is important.
A construction crew chosen in this manner allows the individual
carvers of the crew a respected position in the community.