Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 3, 1 March 2016 — Moloka‘i Makahiki nurtures the spirit [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Moloka‘i Makahiki nurtures the spirit

By Cheryl Corbiell Ayear in the planning by dedicated volunteers, the Ka Moloka'i Makahiki 2016 celebration eulminated in a three-day cultural event that drew more than 300 athletes who had been training for months. Since the contemporary Moloka'i Makahiki tradition was revitalized 34 years ago, the number of athletes has doubled and today includes competitors from four other islands. Held Jan. 28 to 30, the Moloka'i festival included the arrival of the Hikianalia voyaging eanoe; a speaker series about Kaho'olawe's makahiki; an update about the Hōkūle'a and Hikianalia worldwide voyage; athletic competitions for 187 kindergarten to high school students and adults at Kaunakakai Ball Field and 147 middle to high

school students at Nā'iwa, the traditional makahiki grounds; and a closing ho'olaule'a. The Hikianalia's arrival at Kaunakakai harbor heralded the beginning of the makahiki festival. More than 400 residents visited the eanoe. "The primarily 16-member Moloka'i crew wanted to eompete in the games so we timed our Moloka'i visit with makahiki," said crewmember, Kawika Crivello. While puhlie land events were held at the Kaunakakai Ball Field, elite middle and high school students were chosen by their schools to compete at Nā'iwa. Event organizer Mikiala Pescaia said, "Nā'iwa is not dramatic and looks like a lush pasture, but the area is steeped in history and centuries of sportsmanship." The past is not far away. Dense vegetation hides the wrestling arena with stone terraced spectator seating; a heiau, dedicated

to Lono; and a 'ūniki pā hula (hula mound). At the edge of the property stand two upright stones believed to be Kāne and Kanaloa. After a dusty, early morning drive into north-central Moloka'i, the Nā'iwa opening ceremony pierced the silence as a procession carried Lono, the god of agriculture and fertility, to the altar where ho'okupu are laid. A 16-foot pole represented Lono with a carved human head at the top and crosspiece hung with sheets of cloth. Nā'iwa is on private property and restricted to athletes and organizers only. The Kaunakakai Ball Lield opening ceremony is open to the puhlie and is similar to Nā'iwa's. Sporting events included 'ō'ō ihe (spear throwing), 'ulu maika (stone rolling), moa pahe'e (oblong wood slide), kōnane (checkers), pā uma (standing arm wrestling), hākā moa (one leg held up by a hand wrestling),

pōhaku ho'oikaika (stone toss), uma (arm wrestle) heihei wāwae (100 meter sprint), kūkini (400 meters sprint), lele pahū (highest splash), and hukikahi (one-on-one rope pull). The team event was pā'ume'ume (tug of war). Both girls and boys compete together in the events. Brooke Keliihoomalu, aMoloka'i student and winner in 10 events, has competed at Nā'iwa for three years. "Attending makahiki at Nā'iwa makes being Hawaiian real for me. Sportsmanship is important and the competition arduous. Makahiki at Nā'iwa stirs the Hawaiian part of me," said Keliihoomalu. Kupuna Opu'lani Alhino said, "The makahiki games awaken the people and bring back all that was lost. The games are nurturing to the people's spirit and bring people together to share cultural traditions." ■ Chervl Corhi.ell is an Instructor at the University of Hawai'i Maui. College -Moloka'i. and coordi.nator for TeenACE and ACE Readi.ng and Wri.ti.ng programs.

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Students from kindergarten through high school participated in Ka Moloka'i Makahiki 201 6. - Photo : Courtesy