Lonoikamakahiki!

Ushering in the Makahiki Season with Reverence & Gratitude

By Kau'i Kanakaole

“Lonoikamakahiki” is an appropriate greeting of the Makahiki season both in the past and present. But what did it mean to our kūpuna of this land and what does it mean to us today?

HONOR & OBSERVE

Lonoikamakahiki was the name of the season that was marked by its powerful and dynamic atmospheric and oceanic movements. Kānaka used this time to honor the bounty of the year.

Lonoikamakahiki is the season in which the mountains are often dark and heavy; the rivers swollen and muddy. The ocean is frequently rough and choppy and the shoreline is sometimes a churn of debris from the flowing rivers and swift currents. The air temperature cools off seven or eight degrees, the nights are longer, and we spend more time inside at home with ʻohana.

CONNECT & ASPIRE

Lonoikamakahiki was the name of an impressive Aliʻi Nui of Hawai’i island, who was born of regal lineage: Līloa, ‘Umi, and Keawenuia‘umi.

Lonoikamakahiki is a time to look to each other and at the work we are all doing individually in our community, to come together to find commonalities and strengths, and to work towards shared goals.

REFLECT & GIVE THANKS

Lonoikamakahiki is the name of various wahi pana (sacred places) that informed the intellectual and spiritual needs of our people.

Lonoikamakahiki is the season where we return to the places that anchor us. We revisit, we feed, we give thanks for what we have been able to receive from these places. And we promise to honor and protect them.

For our kūpuna Lonoikamakahiki meant several things...

For us today, Lonoikamakahiki is a time to exercise extra care in our daily observations, pay attention to how we connect to our ʻāina and each other, reflect in gratitude for the past year, and commit to where we want to be.

On November 18th, 2022, Lonoikamakahiki will be celebrated on the grounds of Kahanu Gardens, with Hale o Piʻilani as a formidable backbone, Kanehoalani kau ma ka lolo, and the ao puaʻa piling up above Paki, Hilinaʻi and Olopawa. It will be a majestic day in Honomaʻele and perfect conditions for an ʻAha Makahiki in Maui Hikina.

It will start with the procession of Lonomakua that will come inland off Ke Ala Loa o Maui at the point of Kalāhu to hold space and accept hoʻokupu from all who feel the need to acknowledge all the intricacies of the lono.

Organizations, businesses, educational institutions, farmers, fishermen and hula practitioners will chant their oli hoʻokupu, place their offering on the lele, sit in unity and acknowledgement when taking their ʻapu ʻawa, eat of the kinolau of Lono and play the traditional games. It will be celebratory of who we are today as kānaka of this particular ʻāina, while being firmly grounded in the intellect and observations of our kūpuna.

Join the ʻAha Makahiki o Maui Hikina on November 18th, 2022! Itʻs open to the community. Be part of the observation, connection, aspiration, reflection and gratitude that is Lonoikamakahiki! For more information on how to participate, contact Ala Kukui, contact@ alakukui.org, (808)248-7841.

ʻŌkaʻi o Lono

E ala ē, ‘īnana hoʻi ē Nauane, nauane

E ko Koʻolau ē Nauane, nauane

ʻĀina o ka wai a Kāne Nauane, nauane

E ala ē, ‘īnana hoʻi ē Nauane, nauane

E ala ē, ‘īnana hoʻi ē Nauane, nauane

E ko Hāna ē Nauane, nauane ʻĀina o ka Ua Lanihaʻahaʻa Nauane, nauane

E ala ē, ‘īnana hoʻi ē Nauane, nauane

E ala ē, ‘īnana hoʻi ē Nauane, nauane

E ko Kīpahulu ē Nauane, nauane

ʻĀina o ka makani Kāʻili Aloha Nauane, nauane

E ala ē, ‘īnana hoʻi ē Nauane, nauane

E ala ē, ‘īnana hoʻi ē Nauane, nauane

E ko Kaupō ē Nauane, nauane ʻĀina o ka Ua Peʻe Pōhaku Nauane, nauane

E ala ē, ‘īnana hoʻi ē Nauane, nauane

Na Kauʻi Kanakaʻole 2018