Those who vacation in Hawaii discover fairly quickly that the Hawaiian people are passionate about their history and the preservation of their culture. In fact, there are numerous festivals, holidays and activities throughout the year that celebrate the history and traditions of the Hawaiian people. It doesn’t matter what time of year you visit Hawaii, you will find something that leaves you with a feel for what this paradise was like for its original Polynesian settlers.
The Ka Molokai Makahiki Festival takes place each January on the island of Molokai. Traditionally, Makahiki was considered a time of peace. The ancient Hawaiian people of various tribes would lay down their disputes and come together each year after the harvest to celebrate, give thanks and honor Lono, the god of agricultural fertility.
Makahiki was celebrated through a series of games, competitions, and of course; the hula which is said to have originated on Molokai. Villagers participating in these ancient Hawaiian games would go head-to-head challenging each others’ skill in arm wrestling, known as Uma, huki huki, or modern day tug-of-war, and Ulumaika, also known as lawn bowling.
Makahiki also included water sports like cliff diving and canoe racing as well as Oli composition. Because the ancient Hawaiian people had no other way to record their history, they used songs, poems and chants (Oli) to record or mark significant events. It is these songs or meles and chants that you will still hear today at various celebrations and festivities throughout the islands.
Today, the Makahiki committee here in Hawaii works to encourage the preservation of this tradition. The island of Molokai hosts their Ka Molokai Makahiki Festival every January where attendees can learn more about the history of the celebration, watch hula dancers, participate in arts and crafts workshops and sporting competitions; all while enjoying some fantastic music and even better food!
If your Hawaii vacation takes place in January, you’ll want to hop on over to the island of Molokai for a fun-filled day at the Ka Molokai Makahiki Festival! This years’ event takes place on Saturday January 25th at the Mitchell Pauole Center in Kaunakakai Town. More information can be found at: http://www.molokaievents.com
