The Makahiki season was the ancient Hawaiian New Year festival, in honor of the god Lono of the Hawaiian religion.

It was a holiday covering four consecutive lunar months, approximately from October or November through February or March. Thus it might be thought of as including the equivalent of modern Thanksgiving and Christmas traditions.

Green House Worshops Sat, November 17th & Ahupua’a – Keiki Shirt

* Makahiki Food Plants Cooking Series (read history and see the kahea ahupua’a t-shirt below)
The Hawaiian season of * Makahiki is upon us. Natural Food Chef Gigi Miranda will lead this cooking series to honor the season focusing on healthy recipes using traditional plants, ʻUala, Kalo, Ulu and Niu. Each session will cover one plant in-depth and feature a farmer or gardener sharing their harvest.

The Green House Saturday, November 17th 10 – noon
Fee $50/Class or $180/Series 1/17, 12/1, 8 & 15 Advanced Registration and Prepayment Required To see calendar & register online http://www.thegreenhousehawaii.com Or call (808) 524-8427

Herbal Tinctures and Infusions Workshop
Learn how herbal tinctures and infusions can add more herbal magic healing power to your life and how to make them yourself with Herbalist and Ethnobotanist Laura Shiels. A helpful informational booklet will also be provided.

The Green House Saturday, November 17th 1 – 3pm
Fee $20 Advanced Registration Required
To see calendar & register online http://www.thegreenhousehawaii.com Or call (808) 524-8427

Betty Gearen The Green House Hawaii 224 Pakohana Street Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 524-8427 http://www.thegreenhousehawaii.com

*Today, the Aloha Festivals celebrate the Makahiki tradition

The Makahiki festival was celebrated in three phases. The first phase was a time of spiritual cleansing and making hoʻokupu, offerings to the gods. The Konohiki, a class of royalty that at this time of year provided the service of tax collector, collected agricultural and aqua-cultural products such as pigs, taro, sweet potatoes, dry fish, kapa and mats. Some offerings were in the form of forest products such as feathers. The Hawaiian people had no money or other similar medium of exchange. These were offered on the altars of Lono at heiau – temples – in each district around the island. Offerings also were made at the ahupuaʻa, stone altars set up at the boundary lines of each community.

All war was outlawed to allow unimpeded passage of the image of Lono. The festival proceeded in a clockwise circle around the island as the image of Lono (Akua Loa, a long pole with a strip of tapa and other embellishments attached) was carried by the priests. At each ahupuaʻa (each community also is called an ahupuaʻa) the caretakers of that community presented hoʻokupu to the Lono image, a fertility god who caused things to grow and who gave plenty and prosperity to the islands.

The second phase was a time of celebration: of hula dancing, of sports (boxing, wrestling, sliding on sleds, javelin marksmanship, bowling, surfing, canoe races, relays, and swimming), of singing and of feasting. One of the best preserved lava sled courses is the Keauhou Holua National Historic Landmark.

In the third phase, the waʻa ʻauhau — tax canoe — was loaded with hoʻokupu and taken out to sea where it was set adrift as a gift to Lono.At the end of the Makahiki festival, the chief would go off shore in a canoe. When he came back in he stepped on shore and a group of warriors threw spears at him. He had to deflect or parry the spears to prove his worthiness to continue to rule.

Ahupua’a – Keiki Shirt (also women)

Find AT Kahea online