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Makahiki Marks Beginning of Hawaiian New Year

by Army Sgt. Catherine Talento

As they have for nearly 2,000 years, they came from the water. For Hawaiians, the arrival of the boats marks the beginning of Makahiki, the Hawaiian New Year.

For members of the Hickam Air Force Base community like Staff Sgt. Alexander Sotak, the Makahiki was an opportunity to experience a seldom-seen side of Hawaiian culture.

"It was very interesting because it was so different. It was hard to connect to because it is so foreign to you," Sergeant Sotak said. "But having seen it I have a better respect for what they go through when they harvest their crops."

The Makahiki is an ancient annual festival dedicated to Lono, the deified guardian of agriculture, rain, health and peace. According to the Hawaiian lunar calendar, the season of Lono began with the rising of the constellation Pleiades and lasted until January.

Since Lono was a guardian of peace, according to participant Shad Kane all warfare on the islands was forbidden.

"The Moku would engage in games, like we have today," Mr. Kane said. "Games showed strength, the abundance of the harvest. If you were the winner at games, it meant you were well fed."

With dance, singing and offerings of food, Hickam residents got a rare chance to experience the traditional side of Hawaiian culture. In modern times, the Makahiki is most closely related to the American holiday of Thanksgiving. Mr. Kane said the Makahiki should remind people to be thankful of the Earth's harvest all year, not just the New Year.

"We need to take care of the simple things," he said. "We need to take care of our air, our water, our land, because we come from the Earth and to the Earth we will go back.

After the ceremony was complete, the collected offerings were taken to a sacred burial mound were the repatriated remains of native Hawaiians lay.

Source: Air Force