Makahiki is an aspect of our Hawaiian culture, if anything, the biggest aspect of our culture that makes us Hawaiian. This was about half of our calendar year, consisting of games, fun, minimum work, praise to the God Lono, giving thanks, and ringing in the New Year. During the time of Makahiki, the best craftwork, woodwork, featherwork, fishing, hunting, and many other things were given to the Gods and the Aliʻi to show thanks and paying respects to them. The aliʻi nui, kahunas, and many others, carried the big staff, Lonoikamakahiki, around the island collecting the goods "taxes", that the people would offer in this time. Games that strengthened skills, knowledge, intelligence, and reaction were played to train people in certain ways. Also during this time, there was no battles or war that took place as it was forbidden. But what does the word Makahiki itself, actually mean?
When understanding the makawalu of a name, everyone can interpret it in different ways. In the Hawaiian language, one word can mean many things, and the way you break up big words can be interpreted one way or another. For makahiki, I interpreted that into two words. One being Maka, eye. The other being hiki, or to arise. The reason why I believe that this is the correct makawalu for this time is that the beginning of the Makahiki season is signaled by the rising of the "7 seven sisters" constelation, called makaliʻi in Hawaiian. Being that my makawaly on Makahiki means the eyes that arise, it makes sense that the "eyes" are refered to the 7 stars in the sky that "arise" to signal the time of Makahiki season. Thus why I believe that this meaning seems correct and appropriate to believe about the name Makahiki.
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AuthorBeing Hawaiian isn't just understanding who you are and where you come from, but feeling within your nāʻau the passion to learn ʻike to pass on to the future lāhui. Here is my journey through Mālama Honua and how I am making a difference here in Hawaiʻi. Archives
December 2016
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