Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 3, Number 3, 1 March 1986 — Ka Molokai Makahiki Getting Bigger, Better [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Ka Molokai Makahiki Getting Bigger, Better

More than 350 participants, including 280 from Molokai's four elementary schools, made the fifth annual Ka Molokai Makahiki "a bigger and better event," according to Walter Ritte Jr., general chairman and one of the founders of the games in 1981. It was a two-day affair held Jan. 24-25 at the Kaunakakai ball park. The Friday night competition, held under a eool and clear sky, featured individual entries for adults.

The Saturday events were held under a blazing sun accompanied by an occasional breeze. It featured keikis from kindergarten through grade six, intermediate students from Kailua lntermediate School of Oahu and Molokai High and Intermediate School and team competition for adults. An estimated 500 spectators filled the bleachers and the grass areas of the field to witness some keen competition throughout the events. Organizationally, it was a smoothlyrun makahiki with nary a hangup. Unlike most Hawaiian events, this one ran like clock-work. Participants were punetual and the events went off as scheduled. Students were very disciplined and sat in their resp>ective sections cheering on their fellow combatants rather than prancing all over the field. Kilohana School, in fact, brought along its own cheer!eaders and booster squad and perhaps this helped because the school won the overall championship for the third year in a row to permanently retire the trophy. This is the same school whieh observed its 75th anniversary last year.

The makahiki in ancient Hawaii was a time for religious : observances, for payment of taxes and for athletic competition and festivities. According to Ritte, Molokai's annual celebration today helps preserve Hawaiian traditions and culture. He explained that the program has become an islandwide festival focusing on the youngest children. Molokai's four grade schools held competitions in October and again with the finals in December to select their respective representatives for the January games. Their efforts will count in their Hawaiian studies and physical education programs.

The home folks and keikis were joined for the second consecutive year by a crew of sailors, this time from the rescue salvage ship USS Conserver. Many of its crew members participated in the makahiki and assisted with logistics. Kilohana amassed a team total of 332 points to edge Kaunakakai by six in the elementary division. Kualapuu had 304 points to finish third and Maunaloa, the smallest of them all, had 186 fourth plaee fx>ints. In the special Molokai vs. Kailua events for seventh graders, the Oahu visitors won with 86 points against 64. Another special event featured Molokai eighth graders against Kailua seventh graders and this time the host school prevailed, 94 to 68.

Adults also relished the two days of competition for them as they participated individually the night before and eame back to perform in the team events the very next day. In the Friday night comp>etition, Kaunakakai Elementary School fourth grade teacher T sulan Purdy , formerly of Honolulu, and Kila DeMello were the big individual winners, eaeh winning three events. Mrs. Purdy, however, was the overall winner with 76 points to 60 for second plaee finisher Tammy Wing and 40 for Camie Kimball, Molokai High School teacher. In the men's division, Walter Naki was the dominant performer with three victories and an overall point total of 46. Herman Puaoi followed with 34 points with James Kimmel and Ernest Puaoi Jr. ending in a third plaee tie with 32 points eaeh. The team championship for men the next day went to Grayline with 74 points. Molokai Canoe Club followed with 60 points, Mana'e Canoe Club had 58 and Hoolehua 52. Molokai Canoe Club won the women's division with 78 points, followed by Mana'e with 70, Wahine Teachers, 62, and Hokulani Wahine, 60.

Ano Koa Ki'e Ki'e (Individual Competition) Women Kukini (100-yard dash) — Tsulan Purdy. Kukini (400-yard dash) — Camie Kimhall. Ulumaika — Tammy Wing. Moa Pahe'e — Kila DeMello. O'oihe — Camie Kimhall. Uma — Tammy Wing. Pa Uma — Kila DeMeilo. Pohaku Ho'oikaika — Tsulan Purdy. Haka Moa — Kila DeMeIIo. Hukihuki — Tsulan Purdy. Men Kukini (100-yard dash) — Walter Naki. Kukini (400-yard dash) — Herman Puaoi. Ulumaika — Walter Naki. Moa Pahe'e — Clayton Vincent. O'oihe — Walter Naki. Uma — James Kimmel. Pa Uma — Kanna Wallaee. Pohaku IHo'oikaika — Kanna Wallaee. Haka Moa ~ James Kimmel. Hukihuki — Ernest Puaoi. Ka Molokai Makahiki Elima Individual Class Competition Elementary Division KfNDERGARTEN: Uma — Pukanala Aleon, (Kau). Haka Moa — Shanna Willings (Kau). Ulumaika — Miehael Clark (M). Kukini — Peter Bert (Kil). Hukihuki — Kilohana (Malia Pupuhi, Brandon Lima, Peter Bert, Shannon

Iaea, Kanohowailuku Helm, David Kalilikane). F1RST GRADE: Uma — Mano Fatafehi (Kau). Haka Moa — Curtis Dommgo (Kau). Ulumaika — Charles Brown (Kua). Kukini — Richard Dowling (Kau). Hukihuki — Kilohana (Kami Pupuhi, Edmund Uma, Paul Pupuhi, Annette Luafalemanu, Jared Chong, Punahele Ward). SECOND GRADE: Uma — Ikaika Tanabe (Kua). Haka Moa — Mason Nakihei (Kau). Ulumaika — Gregory Solatorio (Kau). Kukini — Todd Parker (Kua). Hukihuki — Kilohana (Kawika Blevins, Elizabeth laea, Stewart Mahiai, Kiana Kalima, 0!iver Btum, Elizabeth Kalipi, JoAnn Mainitin). THIRD GRADE: Uma — John Kaiama (Kau). Haka Moa — Shaun Young (Kil). Ulumaika — Shaun Young (Kil). Kukini — Benvon Mahiai (Kau). Hukihuki — Kaunakakai ( Jesus Libero, John Kaiama, Sabrina Sumug, Von Santiago, Benvon Mahiai, James Furtado).

FOURTH GRADE: Uma — Miehael Arce (Kua). Haka Moa — Joseph Sanchez (Kua). Ulumaika — Stanley Sales (Kau). Kukini — Justo Patague (Kua). Hukihuki — Kilohana (Ctarence Kalilikane, Kekama Helm, Kekoa Young, Rodlyn Espiritu, Mitchell Duvauchelle, Jordan Berg). FIFTH GRADE: Uma — Larissa Wright (Kau). Haka Moa — Hiram Wright (Kau). Ulumaika — Glenn Angel (Kau). Kukini — Dana Dudoit (Kil). Hukihuki — Kualapuu (Leslee Florea, Paul Mamuad, Erica Starkey, Christopher Borden, Pedro Cabacang, Virgilia Cabacang). SIXTH GRADE: Uma — Terrance Paleka (M). Haka Moa — Brandon Akana (Kil). Ulumaika — Geroge Pupuhi (Kil). Kukini — Poneiano Raguindin (Kau). Hukihuki — Kaunakakai (Armando Habon, Keoni Lindsey, Kelii Kalua, Glenda Agulan, Chauncey Plaee, Sherene Lopez). SPECIAL EVENTS Molokai vs. Kailua (Oahu) 7th Graders Kukini (100-yard dash) — John Kanohuloa (MHS). Ulumaika — Nata!ie Dove (K). Moa Pahe'e — Marie Campbell (K). O'oihe — Gandarva Ross (MHS). Uma — Rodney Plaee (MHS). Pa Uma — Kim Ishii (K). Pohaku Ho'oikaika — John Kanohokula (MHS). Haka Moa — Mariebell Natarado (K). Molokai 8th Graders

vs. Kailua 7th Graders Kukini (100-yard dash) — Noah Ching (K). Ulumaika — Jasan Shinn (K). Moa Pahe'e — Frank Kuamoo (MHS). O'oihe — Sean Kekahuna (MHS). Uma — Sean Kekahuna (MHS). Pa Uma — Taylor Kaawa (MHS). Pohaku Ho'oikaika — Sean Kekahuna (MHS). Haka Moa — Frank Kuamoo (MHS). Hukihuki — Molokai (P. Han, J. Kekahuna, T. 01sen, R. Plaee, S. Kaai, K. Kapu). ADULT DIVISION (Team Competition) Women Kukini (100-yard dash) — Tsulan Purdy (WT). Kukini (400-yard dash) — Camie Kimbal (MCC)i. Ulumaika — Liko Rawlins (MCC). Moa Pahe'e — Kila DeMello (Mana'e). O'oihe — Joey Dudoit (MCC). Uma — Yvette English (HW). Pa Uma — Tania Dudoit (MCC). Pohaku Ho'oikaika — Kathy Hearse (MCC). Haka Moa — Ke Solotario (HW). Hukihuki — Mana'e (Kaui Kapuni, Lynn Dudoit, Tica Kekahuna, Marney Soren, Collette Kalawe). Men Kukini (100-yard dash) — Thomas Paakaula (Mana'e). Kukini (400-yard dash) — Thomas Paakaula (Mana'e). Ulumaika — Rick Baptiste (H). Moa Pahe'e — Wesley Afelin (MCC). O'oihe — Merv Dudoit (Mana'e). Uma — Danny Puailihau (H). Pa Uma — William Kapuni (MCC). Pohaku Ho'oikaika — Ron Kimball (MCC). Haka Moa — Charles Buchanan (Grayline). Hukihuki — Grayline (Paul Souza, David Souza, Wayne Peelua, Kolo Plaee, Moku Buchanan, Charles Buchanan).

Chccring wildly and enthusiastically are these participants and supporters from the four Molokai elementary schools during Makahiki.

Tsulan Purdy, right, crosses f>nish line in 100-yard dash just a shade ahead of Camie Kimhall.

Kindergarten students from Kilohana in hukihuki competition with Kualapuu.

Jml" ' 1 These first graders concentrate heavily in their uma meeting.