Issue 26: Makahiki

Limua ka moku.
The land is moss-covered.
There is peace in the land, and no wars to disturb it.


Special Brief Issue: Makahiki!
How could I have forgotten to update this exciting blog that follows whatever Hawaiian things I want to talk about?  I blame spring break.  All these extra hours I get to sleep in on has just been too relaxing to contemplate writing anything coherent.
Well, I'm going to try since readership has gone up.  But, in honor of spring break, we're going to talk about Makahiki. 

Makahiki is a season all ancient Hawaiians acknowledged in honor of the god Lono.  During this time, all wars went on hiatus and work was suspended.  The people took stock of their resources and recognized that things needed time to renew to give new life for the next year.  This season started in late fall and ran for some four months or so, allowing plenty of time for seedlings to grow, and for the people to relax in their homes without having their guard up.  They could mend things that needed fixing, teach their kids without worrying about a raid, make plans for the future.  Incidentally, things most of us are currently free to do if we chose to. 
I mentioned that Makahiki was in celebration of the god Lono; now, Lono was the Hawaiian god of fertility, agriculture, music, and peace.  I'll be honest, I don't fully understand the story of Lono and Makahiki, but I invite any knowledgeable readers to comment below and share. 
There were also traditional games that are still played to this day at various Hawaiian gatherings.  `Ulu maika (essentially, bowling with a round stone) and javelin throwing are some of the common ones.  There are other traditional games that are no longer played so much - most probably due to the high-contact nature of wrestling, boxing, faux battles - all of which could easily end with participants getting injured.
If you have more information on makahiki, please share!  We're almost certainly past Makahiki season, but it's something to look forward to next year!

By Sabrina Robello

Sourced: Here and here.