It is believed the outrigger canoe originated in the region of Indonesia, spreading outwards with the migration of its people into Samoa, (the birthplace of Polynesian culture) and also Micronesia and Melanesia. Although there is evidence that it existed in other parts of Polynesia, contemporary outrigger canoe racing has its origins in the Hawaiian Islands. It is the Hawaiian outrigger canoe which is principally used internationally for racing.It is common practice to use the original Hawaiian names to name the parts which make up the outrigger framework; the spars (iako), the floatation device (ama) and hull (ka'ale). Many indigenous names exist for canoe, but the more universal names used in outrigger canoe racing include: Wa'a- Hawaii, Va'a- Tahiti, Waka Ama- New Zealand.