About This Calendar This 2017 Kaulana Mahina (Hawaiian lunar calendar) features information on traditional native Hawaiian fishing and farming practices associated with the lunar cycles. A special mahalo to Helemano Elementary School, Wahiawa, O‘ahu; Jefferson Elementary School, Honolulu, O‘ahu; Kapolei Middle School, Kapolei, O‘ahu; Ke Kula ‘o Nāwahīokalani‘ōpu‘u Iki, Kea‘au, Moku o Keawe; and King Kamehameha III Elementary School, Lahaina, Maui, for participating in this year’s student art contest on the theme of “Fishing and Farming to the Cycles of the Moon and Seasons.” The winning art from the contest graces these pages. In the kaulana mahina, each malama (month) has 30 pō mahina (moon phases), which are divided into three anahulu (“weeks”): ho‘onui (waxing), poepoe (full moon) and ho‘emi (waning). Each malama begins with the first visible crescent moon. The moon phases in this calendar are for Honolulu as calculated by the HM Nautical Almanac (astro.ukho.gov.uk/websurf). The tide charts with moon rise and set times were provided by OceanFun Publishing, NZ. Since 2006, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council has provided traditional lunar calendars to lawai‘a (fishermen) and schools as a means to explore the use of the lunar calendar as a tool to observe and manage natural resources. Just as fishermen recognize spawning seasons associated with lunar cycles as a time to limit harvesting of some species, farmers recognize the cycles of wet and dry seasons in their agricultural practices. This 2017 calendar delves into lunar information that may help both lawai‘a (fishermen) and mahi‘ai (farmers) manage their time and make efficient use of resources as well as help ‘opio (youth) understand natural cycles and the practices associated with them.
Historically, each Hawaiian island had a different calendar, with different names of the month and possibly different ordering of months and seasons. Kamakau named some of the ancient experts of O‘ahu and Kaua‘i: Luahaukapawa, Maihea, Na‘ula, Nu‘akea and Mo‘i. Kamehameha I may have influenced the island calendars by imposing the Hawai‘i island calendar on all of the islands and changing the Makahiki season into an opportunity for the collection of tribute as the gods made their island circuit. Traditionally, the kilo hoku (astronomers) of each island set down the lunar calendar for their island. Fortunately, Hawaiian scholars left much information about the lunar calendar from which we can learn. There may be a need today for a Komike Kilo Hoku to direct research and to certify the various traditional lunar calendars being developed, something like the Komike Hua‘olelo (Hawaiian Lexicon Committee) that addressed modern Hawaiian language vocabulary. Such an endeavor could help Hawai‘i revive the enjoyment of living within the natural cycles of the seasons, improve the monitoring of natural occurrences and better manage our island resources.
About the Council
The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council has worked with communities in Hawai‘i, American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands since 2006 to produce traditional lunar calendars to promote ecosystem-based fisheries management and support indigenous fishing and management practices. In Hawai‘i, the Council strongly supports the traditional ‘aha moku system of natural resource management, which recognizes the traditional moku (districts) as a basis for cultural and community consultation, adaptive management, education, general knowledge and a code of conduct. More information and the ‘aha moku system can be found at www.wpcouncil.org and www.ahamoku.org. If your moku is interested in working with the Council on a future calendar, please send an email to info@wpcouncil.org.
Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Phone: (808) 522-8220 Fax: (808) 522-8226 Email: info@wpcouncil.org Web: www.wpcouncil.org Front cover art: Julia Samson, Kapolei Middle School, First Place, Grades 6-8 (Teacher: Daryle Mishina) Back cover graphic depicting the Hawaiian lunar cycle, © 2010, Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council A publication of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council pursuant to NOAA Award NA14NMF4520236. © 2017, Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council ISBN 978-1-944827-00-7