Have you ever wondered where the canoe in the Social Science Tower came from? It was actually made on the UCI campus in 1968 by an experienced Samoan boat-builder. The 36-year old man was from the village of Satalo on the island of Upolu, Western Samoa. His family had a long history of expertise in carpentry, and he was an experienced boat-builder and fisherman. Known as UliUli, he held the chiefly title Uliulileave, and he had spent his entire life on the island of Satalo before coming to UCI.
AS-061. University Communication Photographs. Special Collections and Archives, the U.C. Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California.
There are 3 motion pictures from the University of California, Irvine, Department of Anthropology documenting the construction and use of a canoe by Uliulileave from Satalo, Samoa, as well as the work of a master Yucatec Maya potter named Alfredo Tzum. For more information on these films, visit UCI Space.
UPDATE: We are sorry to report that Uliuli passed away on January 25, 2015. More information is available here —
https://ucisca.wordpress.com/2016/02/02/the-passing-of-taloolemaagao-uliulileava-olano-the-great-samoan-canoe-builder/