Free and open to the public.
Hawaiian language charter school, Ke Kula ʻo S.M. Kamakau will honor the Makahiki season in their fourth annual Makahiki Kuilimacelebration showcasing traditional Hawaiian sports. The event is presented by Hawaiian education programs Ke Kula `o S.M. Kamakau and Naepuni Aloha and sponsored by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaiʻi nonprofits KAI LOA, Inc. and Kanalu, and North Shore’s Turtle Bay Resort, among other community supporters.
The Makahiki season begins with the first sighting of Makali‘i, the constellation Pleiades, as it rises above the horizon at sunset. It’s the beginning of a 4-month period honoring Lono, the god worshipped for peace, prosperity, and fertility. During this season tributes were made, battles ceased, and sporting competitions thrived. Hawaiians used this time to refine their athletic skills, emphasize spiritual and cultural renewal, and enjoy the prosperity of their ‘āina.
Makahiki Kuilima is a free event and open to the public. Everyone is invited to experience a day of festivities including traditional Makahiki sporting events such as hukihuki (tug of war), ‘ulu maika (lawn bowling), uma (arm wrestling), heihei kūkini (foot racing), ‘ō‘ō ihe (spear throwing), and hula. There will be artisans and crafters, educational exhibits, cultural demonstrations, and cultural performances.
The event is co-presented by Naepuni Aloha, the parent group of Ke Kula ‘o Samuel M. Kamakau, a Hawaiian medium P-12 education program dedicated to teaching through the Hawaiian language and culture. The purpose of the event is to perpetuate, educate, and share Hawaiian cultural traditions, values, and practices through the emphasis of ‘ōlelo Hawai’i and Makahiki traditions.
This project is sponsored by Office of Hawaiian Affairs, working to improve the lives of the Native Hawaiian community.
For more information, or to make a donation or complete a booth application, visit https://sites.google.com/site/makahikikuilima/contact-us/home or e-mail makahiki.kuilima@gmail.com.
