Makahiki

The Makahiki is an ancient annual festival dedicated to Lono, the guardian of agriculture, rain, health, and peace. The Makahiki festival was celebrated for 2,000 years throughout the Hawaiian Islands. It was based on the lunar calendar, the beginning of the Hawaiian new year began on the first night of the rising of the constellation Makali'i (Pleiades). The four months following the rise of Makali'i, October through January, was set aside as a time for Lono-to give thanksgiving for the bounty of the land and sea. During the Makahiki all warfare was strictly forbidden in reverence to Lono. Lono represented the spiritual life-force that came from agricultural efforts, the people celebrated with feasting. The focus on health and welfare was celebrated with games of skill that tested body and mind.

The first phase was spiritual cleansing and making offerings to the gods. The offerings were made on the altar of Lono.

here the Nakoa is accepting a ho'okupu-gift according to royal protocol,
the Kahuna Nui- high priest cleansing the area before the games,



the second phase was a time of celebration of hula, sports (one legged wrestling-hakamoa is pictured above, sliding on sleds, surfing, canoe races, relays, swimming), singing, and feasting. There is a preserved lava sled slide in Keauhou on the Big Island. All royal protocol was suspended during this time.
Kapuaikaula (Hawaiian name for the lands that are now Hickam base) dignitaries,

Erica participating in the games, this is moa pahe'e,
I was impressed with how she threw the spear in the makaihe,
and her rock was right on for the ulu maika game. At the end of the games-"pani" and feasting royal protocol was returned where the king could not be looked in the eye and all had to stay below the king's level.
In the Hawaiian language Mahakiki is year, change of harvest time to the beginning of the new season, ma Kahiki also means "as in Tahiti", Lono is associated with voyages to and from Tahiti and return to Lono during the early migration in the form of man. The third phase, at the end of the Makahiki festival, a canoe was loaded with ho'okupu and taken out to sea where it was set adrift as a gift to Lono.

The Hawaiian language is really poetic. "Kama" means to take, "aina" is land so Kama'aina is this land stole your heart. People who homestead in the islands are kama'aina. "Koko" is blood so Koko'aina are the people who's blood is tied to the land.

"pa'a" is salt which was cherished, "kai" water so pa'akai is ocean water. "O" circle, eternity, "wai" water so "wai" is fresh water, "ha" breath of life so "O'wai kouinoa piha" means: from what waters do you drink? or what is your name? How cool is that...