Last year, the canoes made an appearance at Maiwara, a few kilometres, up along the same bay.
But the intimidating appearance was not for fighting. It was for the Huhu War Canoe Festival.
The festival is an initiative of the Huhu cultural leaders, for the people of Huhu to safe guard their identity, to educate their people and to preserve their culture.
The history behind the war canoes is fascinating.
According to events coordinator, Michelle Benua, Maiwara and Wagawaga are actually the leading war canoe villages since history.