Makahiki Festivities: Honoring the Hawaiian God Lono

I first came across the Makahiki season while reading about the constellation Makaliʻi — the Pleiades — whose rising at sunset marks the start of the Hawaiian new year. The season usually begins in mid-November and runs through late January or February, aligning with the rainy season. It’s a period set aside for tribute, harvest, sport, and play, all centered on Lono, the Hawaiian god of fertility, agriculture, and peace. This guide covers what Makahiki actually involved, where you can see its traditions carried forward today, and how to engage with the season respectfully as a visitor.

For the makaʻāinana — the common people — Makahiki brought both excitement and some apprehension. There was the thrill of ceremonies and games, but also anxiety about performing before the aliʻi nui (high chiefs) and whether offerings and hoʻokupu would be accepted. One ceremony people looked forward to involved ke Kōkō o Maoloha i ka lani, or “the net of Maoloha in the heavens.”

Understanding the Makahiki Season

The season is rooted in a cycle of giving, growing, and resting the land.

During Makahiki, great emphasis was placed on hoʻokupu and ʻauhau — offerings and tribute. Objects of value were given by makaʻāinana to their aliʻi and akua (gods). This annual practice of giving was considered an integral phase of the harvest season’s ceremonies, believed to encourage the continued growth and fertility of the land and its resources. It wasn’t just a tax — it was a reciprocal relationship between people, chiefs, and the divine.

What struck me when I first read about this was how the season flipped the usual rhythm of daily life. War was kapu (forbidden) during Makahiki. The aliʻi nui would travel through their districts, collecting tribute and overseeing games. For the common people, it was a rare window of relief from labor — a time when the focus shifted from production to celebration, competition, and spiritual observance.

Where Makahiki Traditions Live Today

You won’t find a single Makahiki theme park. The traditions are carried by communities, schools, and cultural practitioners across the islands.

Community Games and Competitions

Most people associate Makahiki with games like ʻulu maika (a rolling disk game), ʻōʻō ihe (spear throwing), hukihuki (tug-of-war), pā uma (a hand-slapping game), and haka moa (a one-legged wrestling match). These games are currently being revived all over the pae ʻāina — the archipelago — in public and private schools and throughout communities. To a casual viewer, they might look like simple fun. But they’re well-designed exercises that develop physical, mental, and spiritual strength. The games weren’t just entertainment — they were training and testing grounds.

If you’re on Oʻahu, the Kamehameha Schools often host Makahiki events that are open to the public. These are worth planning around if your visit coincides with the season. The games are participatory, not just spectator events, and the atmosphere is genuinely community-driven rather than tourist-oriented.

Kōnane — Hawaiian Checkers

Not all Makahiki competition was physical. Kōnane, often called “Hawaiian checkers,” is a board game that focuses on mental acumen and strategy. Played on a flat stone with black and white pebbles, the game involves jumping and removing opponent’s pieces — similar to checkers but with its own distinct rules and depth. Unfortunately, much of the complexity of kōnane has been lost over the years. What survives is still a sharp test of foresight, and you can sometimes find sets at cultural festivals or in museum gift shops.

Planning Around the Makahiki Season

Timing and access matter more than you might expect.

When to Visit

Makahiki begins with the rising of Makaliʻi at sunset, usually mid-November, and ends in late January or February. That’s a three-month window. The season aligns with the rainy season, so expect afternoon showers and higher humidity. The trade-off is that you’re visiting during a period of deep cultural significance — and crowds are thinner than in summer.

What to Expect at Public Events

Public Makahiki celebrations are not daily occurrences. They’re typically held on weekends or during school events. The Kamehameha Schools events are among the most accessible, but they’re not advertised like tourist attractions. You’ll need to check local community calendars or cultural center postings. The atmosphere is informal — families spread out on grass, kids rotate through game stations, and elders share stories between activities.

On the Ground During Makahiki

A few practical things to know if you’re on island during the season.

Offerings and Protocol

Hoʻokupu — offerings — were central to Makahiki. Today, if you attend a cultural event, you might see people present items like produce, handwoven lauhala mats, or kapa cloth. This isn’t a transaction. It’s a continuation of the belief that giving encourages the continued growth and fertility of the land. As a visitor, you’re not expected to participate in offering ceremonies unless explicitly invited. Observing quietly is appropriate.

What to Bring

If you’re attending an outdoor Makahiki event, you’ll be sitting on grass or gravel for extended periods. A portable ground mat makes a real difference. Sunscreen is essential — even in the rainy season, UV exposure is high. And bring water. Events are low-key and don’t have concession stands. A insulated water bottle will keep your drink cool through a few hours of sitting in the sun.

Local Etiquette

When games are happening, don’t step onto the playing area. The boundaries aren’t marked with ropes or signs — they’re understood by participants. If you’re unsure where to stand, hang back and watch where local families position themselves. Also, avoid clapping or cheering loudly during ceremonies. The tone is reverent, not celebratory, during the protocol portions. Save your enthusiasm for the games afterward.

Makahiki Festivities: Your Questions Answered

Is Makahiki a single festival or a whole season?

It’s a season — roughly three months, from mid-November to late January or February. The rising of Makaliʻi at sunset marks the start. Within that window, different ceremonies and games happen at different times across the islands. There’s no single “Makahiki festival” you can circle on a calendar.

That said, some schools and cultural organizations host public events during the season. These are your best bet for seeing games and ceremonies in person. Just know that the schedule varies year to year and island to island.

Can visitors participate in Makahiki games?

At public events, yes — especially the games. ʻUlu maika and hukihuki are often set up for anyone to try. But the ceremonial portions, particularly hoʻokupu offerings, are not participatory for visitors. You’ll be welcomed to watch, but don’t step into a ceremony circle unless invited.

The tension here is real: you want to engage, but overstepping can feel intrusive. The safest approach is to ask a cultural practitioner on-site what’s appropriate. Most are happy to guide you.

What’s the story behind the constellation Makaliʻi?

A traditional moʻolelo tells of an aliʻi of Kona, Hawaiʻi, who greedily hoarded everyone’s food into one enormous carrying net and traveled with it to the highest stratum of the heavens, where he hung it up. Desperate and starving, the people gathered to plan how to get their food back. A little mouse bravely volunteered for the task.

The story explains how the constellation got its name — Makaliʻi translates to “little eyes” or “many eyes,” referring to the stars that watch over the people. It’s a reminder that the season is about redistribution, not hoarding.

Are there any downsides to visiting during Makahiki?

Yes. The season coincides with the rainy months. Afternoon downpours are common, and some outdoor events get canceled with little notice. Also, because Makahiki isn’t a tourist product, you can’t just show up and expect a curated experience. You’ll need to do some legwork to find events, and even then, you might arrive at a school gymnasium for a two-hour game session rather than a full-day spectacle.

If you’re the type of traveller who wants a guaranteed, polished experience, this might frustrate you. If you’re comfortable with loose plans and local rhythms, it’s worth the effort.

What should I read to understand Makahiki better before I go?

Start with the essays from Kaiwakīloumoku — the Kamehameha Schools cultural publication. They cover the season’s ceremonies, games, and the story of Makaliʻi in accessible detail. For a deeper dive, the Bishop Museum in Honolulu has exhibits on Makahiki artifacts and kōnane boards.

I’d also recommend reading about taro farming — the harvest cycle is central to why Makahiki exists in the first place. Understanding the food system helps the season make more sense.

What stayed with me after reading about Makahiki wasn’t the games or the ceremonies — it was the story of the aliʻi who tried to hoard the food and hang it in the sky. The season is fundamentally about circulation: offerings flowing upward, resources flowing downward, and the land getting a rest so it can produce again. That’s a logic that runs counter to how most of us live now, and it’s worth sitting with.

For more on the traditions that shape Hawaiian life year-round, have a look at this broader overview of ancient Hawaiian practices.

Sources and further reading

Lonoikamakahiki: Celebrating the Season of Makahiki. Kaiwakīloumoku — Kamehameha Schools, 2024.