In January 2026, a small procession of walkers carrying a banner called the Lonomakua set out from Hālawa Valley on the eastern tip of Molokaʻi. Over the following week they crossed the island section by section, passing through each traditional land division known as an ahupuaʻa, before ending at Kapukahehu Beach on the west side. This foot march, part of the Kā Molokaʻi Makahiki festival, reenacts a practice that once defined the entire Hawaiian archipelago for four months every year — a season when war was suspended, taxes were paid in agricultural goods, and communities gathered for feasting and athletic competition. The Makahiki season, dedicated to the god Lono and tied to the return of rains and the harvest, represents one of the most structured cycles of peace and renewal in Polynesian culture. But what exactly was Makahiki, and how do contemporary Hawaiians observe it today?
During Makahiki, which spanned roughly October through January, all warfare across the Hawaiian Islands was kapu — forbidden — and the season was devoted to Lono, the akua of fertility, agriculture, and peace.
Makahiki is the ancient Hawaiian new year festival — a period of harvest, tribute collection, athletic games, and ritual rest. Its modern revival, especially on Molokaʻi since 1981, is a community-led movement, not a tourist attraction. The season’s core values — peace, humility, and collective health — remain central, though the specific practices vary by island and have evolved significantly from pre-contact times.
| Aspect | Ancient Practice (pre-1778) | Contemporary Revival |
|---|---|---|
| Period | Four months, roughly October–January, tied to the Pleiades rising | Often condensed into a week or weekend; Molokaʻi holds a week-long festival in January |
| Deity honored | Lono — akua of agriculture, rain, fertility, and peace | Lono is still invoked; the Lonomakua banner is carried in foot marches |
| Warfare | Strictly forbidden (kapu) during the season | No formal prohibition, but the ethos of peace is central |
| Tribute | Ahupuaʻa communities paid taxes in goods to the aliʻi (chiefs) | No formal tribute; festival is free and community-funded |
| Games | Paʻani makahiki — athletic contests including wrestling, spear-throwing, foot races, and stone-lifting | Decathlon events for keiki (children), ʻōpio (youth), and adults; same core games |
| Religious rituals | Priests conducted ceremonies at heiau (temples); images of Lono were carried in procession | Ceremonial elements present but adapted; focus on cultural education and community gathering |
| Status today | Suppressed after 1819 when the kapu system was abolished | Community revival since 1981; held on every Hawaiian island |
The Season of Lono: Origins and Meaning
Makahiki was not simply a festival but a structured season that governed social, political, and religious life across the Hawaiian Islands. It began when the Pleiades constellation (Makaliʻi) rose at sunset, signaling the start of the Hawaiian new year and the arrival of the wet season. The period was dedicated to Lono, one of the four major akua (gods) in the Hawaiian pantheon, who represented fertility, rain, agriculture, and peace. During this time, the normal order of society shifted: chiefs collected taxes in the form of food and goods from each ahupuaʻa, but war was strictly forbidden, and the kapu system that regulated daily life was relaxed in certain respects.
The season also served a practical ecological function. By halting conflict and redistributing surplus harvest, Makahiki ensured that communities could rest, replenish resources, and prepare for the growing season ahead. The games — paʻani makahiki — were not merely entertainment. They tested skills essential for survival and warfare: strength, speed, agility, and strategy. Events included ʻōʻō ihe (spear throwing), kūkini (foot races of 100 and 440 yards), pōhaku hoʻoikaika (stone lifting), and haka moa (a one-legged grappling contest). These contests built camaraderie and allowed aliʻi to identify the strongest athletes for their retinues.
The Revival on Molokaʻi: A Community-Led Movement
After the abolition of the kapu system in 1819 and the subsequent suppression of Hawaiian religious practices by missionaries and the monarchy, the Makahiki season faded from public observance. By the early 1900s, the tradition had largely disappeared from most islands. On Molokaʻi, however, a small group of islanders led by activist and cultural practitioner Walter Ritte revived the games in 1981. The first Kā Molokaʻi Makahiki was a modest affair, but it planted a seed. More than four decades later, the festival is one of the most rooted cultural celebrations in Hawaiʻi, organized by the nonprofit Ka Molokaʻi Makahiki Inc. and drawing an estimated 2,000 people to its keiki games alone in 2026.
The revival on Molokaʻi has inspired similar events on every Hawaiian island, but the Molokaʻi festival maintains a distinctive character. It is not a tourist spectacle but a community observance. Visitors are welcomed to watch the games and join the closing Hoʻolauleʻa — a celebration with live music, hula by local hālau, native-plant giveaways, and food booths — but the event belongs first to the people of Molokaʻi. The 2026 edition, which marked 45 years of the revival, deliberately reintroduced a hula component, adding a panel and exhibit at the Mitchell Pauʻole Center that explored Molokaʻi’s hula lineages and the enduring role of hula within Makahiki traditions.
If you attend Kā Molokaʻi Makahiki, arrive early for the Friday keiki games — this is the festival’s biggest day, with roughly 2,000 attendees. Bring sun protection, water, and a folding chair. The event is free, but food concessions and booths operate during evening games and the Hoʻolauleʻa.
The Games: Paʻani Makahiki Decathlon
The athletic core of the modern Makahiki is the decathlon, a series of ten traditional contests divided by age group: elementary keiki, middle and high school ʻōpio, and adult kāne (men) and wāhine (women). The events draw directly from pre-contact practices and require no modern equipment. The 2026 Molokaʻi program listed ten events, including hukihuki (tug-of-war), uma and pā uma (forms of arm and standing wrestling), ʻulumaika (rolling a stone disk between stakes), moa pāheʻe (sliding a dart along the ground), and haka moa (a one-legged grappling contest).
For Molokaʻi’s young people, training and competing in these games is a year-defining rite of cultural connection. The decathlon is not about winning at all costs — it emphasizes strategy, camaraderie, and shared identity. The adult division is open to entrants ages 16 and over, with separate competitions for kāne and wāhine. Spectators can watch all events for free; only registered participants need a signed waiver.
A week-long procession carrying the Lonomakua banner from Hālawa Valley to Kapukahehu Beach, passing through each ahupuaʻa. The march opens the festival and ritually reclaims the island’s traditional land divisions. More on the march route.
Three days of competition at Kaunakakai Ball Park. Thursday features ʻōpio (middle and high school) and adult divisions. Friday is the keiki (elementary) games, the festival’s largest day. Saturday includes cultural panels before the Hoʻolauleʻa.
Saturday evening at Kaunakakai Ball Park. Live Hawaiian music (the group Hōlei performed in 2026), hula by local hālau, native-plant giveaways, cultural demonstrations, and food vendors. Free and open to the public.
A common misconception is that Makahiki games are a tourist-friendly “Hawaiian Olympics” that can be easily packaged into a resort activity. In reality, the events are embedded in a specific cultural and seasonal framework. On Molokaʻi, the festival is first a community observance; visitors are guests, not the intended audience. Coming with a respectful, observant attitude — rather than an expectation of entertainment — aligns with the season’s values of peace and humility.
Context and Comparison: Makahiki Across the Islands
While the Molokaʻi revival is the most sustained and well-documented contemporary Makahiki, similar events now occur on every Hawaiian island. The scale and emphasis vary. On Oʻahu, for instance, the Makahiki season is often marked by smaller community gatherings and school-based competitions rather than a single island-wide festival. On Hawaiʻi Island, some cultural organizations host one-day Makahiki events at historical sites like Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park.
| Island | Makahiki Event | Organizer | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Molokaʻi | Kā Molokaʻi Makahiki (January, week-long) | Ka Molokaʻi Makahiki Inc. | Full decathlon, Lonomakua foot march, hula, Hoʻolauleʻa |
| Oʻahu | Various school and community events | Individual schools and cultural organizations | Games and educational workshops |
| Hawaiʻi Island | One-day gatherings at historical parks | Nonprofits and National Park Service | Games, cultural demonstrations, site interpretation |
| Maui | Makahiki-themed school programs | Hawaiian language and culture programs | Youth games and language immersion |
The differences reflect each island’s unique history of cultural revival and the resources available to organizers. Molokaʻi’s event is notable for its duration and the foot march, which is a direct reenactment of the ancient Lonomakua procession.
- Makahiki is a four-month season of peace, harvest, and tribute dedicated to the god Lono, not a single event.
- The modern revival, especially on Molokaʻi since 1981, is a community-led movement that prioritizes cultural transmission over tourism.
- The paʻani makahiki decathlon includes ten traditional athletic events that test strength, speed, and strategy.
- Visitors are welcome but should approach the festival as observers, not consumers — the season’s values of peace, humility, and collective health are still central.
Questions Readers Ask
When does Makahiki take place, and how long does it last?
Traditionally, Makahiki began when the Pleiades constellation rose at sunset, roughly late October, and lasted four months through January. Modern revivals, like Molokaʻi’s, condense the public events into a week in January. The 2026 Kā Molokaʻi Makahiki ran January 19–25.
What are the traditional Makahiki games?
The paʻani makahiki decathlon includes hukihuki (tug-of-war), uma (arm wrestling), ʻulumaika (stone disk rolling), moa pāheʻe (dart sliding), kūkini (foot races of 100 and 440 yards), pōhaku hoʻoikaika (stone lifting), ʻōʻō ihe (spear throwing), and haka moa (one-legged grappling). Events are divided by age and gender.
Is Makahiki a religious ceremony?
Yes and no. The ancient season had deep religious significance, with priests conducting ceremonies at heiau and the god Lono being honored through rituals and processions. The modern revival on Molokaʻi includes ceremonial elements — the Lonomakua foot march and the invocation of Lono — but is primarily a cultural and community event. The 2026 edition reintroduced hula as a deliberate acknowledgment of its ritual history.
Can tourists participate in Makahiki games?
Spectators are welcome at all public events, and the adult decathlon is open to anyone 16 or older with a signed waiver. However, the festival is first a community observance. The Molokaʻi organizers emphasize that the event belongs to the people of Molokaʻi; visitors should come with a respectful attitude rather than expecting a packaged tourist experience. Check the official website for registration details if you wish to compete.
How is Makahiki connected to the god Lono?
Lono is the akua of agriculture, rain, fertility, and peace. Makahiki was the season when Lono’s influence was strongest — war was forbidden, community tribute was collected, and the land was allowed to rest. The Lonomakua banner carried in the Molokaʻi foot march is a symbol of Lono’s presence. The season ended with ceremonies asking Lono to depart, marking the return to normal social order.
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For those interested in exploring the culture of Makahiki more deeply, consider a cultural tour in Hawaiʻi that includes discussion of traditional Hawaiian seasons and practices. The DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo can capture aerial views of the landscape during the Lonomakua march, while the Bose QuietComfort headphones are useful for blocking out wind noise during outdoor events.
What Makahiki Reveals About Hawaiian Cultural Resilience
The survival and revival of Makahiki is not a story of static tradition preserved in amber. It is a story of deliberate, community-led reclamation — a group of Molokaʻi islanders in 1981 deciding that the games mattered enough to bring back, and then sustaining that decision for 45 years. The season’s core values — peace, humility, collective health, and respect for the land — resonate as much today as they did before contact. For a visitor, watching a keiki competition in spear throwing or seeing the Lonomakua banner carried across an ahupuaʻa boundary is not just a glimpse of the past. It is a window into how Hawaiians continue to negotiate their relationship with their own history, on their own terms. To understand that negotiation is to understand far more than the games themselves. For more on authentic Hawaiian community celebrations, read Beyond Luaus: Discovering Authentic Hawaiian Celebrations and Festivals.
Sources and further reading
Generao, Victoria, PhD. “Hawaiian Practices Traditionally Performed During the Autumn Season.” Spread Aloha. 2026. 🔗
Ka Molokaʻi Makahiki Inc. “Kā Molokaʻi Makahiki Festival.” 2026. 🔗
Ka Molokaʻi Makahiki Inc. Official Website. 2026. 🔗
Related reading on IslandHopperGuides
The Hukilau Tradition: A Community Feast and Celebration of Abundance — Another example of Hawaiian communal food gathering and sharing.
Understanding Kapu: Navigating the Ancient System of Hawaiian Laws — The kapu system that regulated Makahiki and daily life.
Sacred Sites of Hawaii: Exploring Heiau and Their Profound Cultural Significance — The temple sites where Makahiki rituals were conducted.
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