Canoes of Anuta and Tikopia
Anuta and Tikopia are two small islands in the far east of the Solomon Islands. The canoes from the two islands are very similar in appearance. It is believed that a canoe from Anuta is 200 years old and still in use as a working canoe, making it the oldest contiually used vessel of any type in the world

Lines are very refined, the deep Vee hullshape gives good performance in rough weather and the ability to go to windward. James Wharram has visited the island and has used the canoes for inspiration for some of his ethnic designs

These canoes appear to be tacking type, with the axe end style usually the bow, however as they are very similar fore and aft, they can certainly be paddled in reverse, this can be seen in one of the above photographs where people can be seen paddling the canoe stern first. My assumption is that when the canoe reaches the beach it enters stern first, this allows for the canoe to then be launched bow first without having to turn the canoe around (again this is assumption)