Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 11, 1 November 2006 — Makahiki [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Makahiki

The season of renewal By Sterling Kini Weng Publications Editor

£j-^»his year, Makali'i or the Pleiades constellaĒ tion, will rise on Nov. 17, marking the start of the Makahiki season, a roughly fourmonth period traditionally dedicated to peaee, sport and worship of the Hawaiian fertility god, Lono. From November through February, more than 2,000 people - from Hawaiian-focused charter school students to Hawai'i prisoners in facilities on the continent - are expected to participate in numerous Makahiki festivals held throughout and state and beyond. Some of the events will focus on cultural education and Hawaiian games, while others will emphasize the solemn rituals associated with Lono and the season of renewal. In the early 1980s, the Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana (PKO) heeame one of the first groups to revive certain Makahiki ceremonies, whieh ended abruptly in 1819, when a group of Hawaiian chiefs that had eonverted to Christianity defeated a faction of staunch traditionalist ali'i in the Battle of Kuamo'o. Davianna McGregor, a longtime member of PKO, said that the ceremonies the

group conducts on Kaho'olawe honor Lono, and ask him for rain to help re-vegetate the island after its long history of deforestation by ranching and military target bombing. "The ceremonies help to heal Kaho'olawe and ourselves as a people directly," she said. "This is part of our responsibility to care for both the land and our deities." While participation in the PKO's ceremonies is limited to cultural practitioners, other events are open to the puhlie. From lan. 26-27, students from all of Moloka'i's schools will descend onto the Makahiki grounds called Nā'iwa and Kaunakakai town to compete in various Hawaiian sports, like 'ulumaika, a stone bowling game. Held for more than 20 years, the allday event on lan. 27 at the Mitchell Pau'ole Center will feature traditional ceremonies, lectures, workshops and competitions. In addition, the organizers of the recent 'Aha Kāne Men's Heahh Conference are coordinating a three-day Makahiki festival at Kualoa Regional Park,

designed to eonhnue the lune conference's work on developing more Hawaiian male leaders. 'Umi Kai, a lua practitioner and coordinator of the event, said that the Makahiki observance will be open to the puhlie, and that while keiki will be able to participate in some Hawaiian games, only kāne over 21 ean eompete in the festival's main sporting events. Kai said there will be one twist to these Makahiki competitions: game implements, such as throwing spears and 'ulumaika rolling stones, will not be provided. "We want to get the men to make their own implements and practice to refine their skills throughout the year," Kai said. "Leadership skills are developed within that training. We want men to learn that responsibility and teach it to their kids." Kai said that the festival will also include Makahiki ceremonies and a discussion of the rituals and protocols involved. Campgrounds will be open to the first 150 people to register, with preference given to Native Hawaiians. Missing from this year's schedule of Makahiki

events will be Pono Souza's popular procession around O'ahu, whieh he started in 2000. Souza gained a lot

of recognition for perhaps being the first person in almost two centuries to trek around the entire island of O'ahu by foot. In ancient Hawai'i, a priestly expedition would journey around eaeh island with the sacred Makahiki wood staff representing Lono. When the group entered eaeh ahupua'a, the chiefs of the district would offer their gifts, and then four days of eompetition and celebration followed. Souza said his main goal for reviving the procession was to generate cultural awareness. "It just blew me away that we celebrate days like Chinese New Year, yet we weren't honoring something as important as Makahiki," he said. "I think Makahiki is as relevant now as ever before, especially during these times of war. It really makes you appreciate that Hawaiians had an entire season when fighting was prohibited." This year, Souza said he won't be doing the procession because he and his wahine are expecting a baby. But don't count on him sitting out on too many Makahiki seasons. "Every time the season comes

around, I get that itch to get back on the road, to eonnect and plug-in," he said. "You never know." For more infonnation on the Kualoa Regional Park Makahiki, whieh will be held Dec. 7-10, eall 'Umi Kai in the evenings at 734-7219. ^

MO'OMEHEU • CULĪURE

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