The protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana OPENS the 40th makahiki season on Kaho‘olawe. LONOIKAMAKAHIKI!

An update from Moʻolono C.M. Kaliko Baker:

​LONOIKAMAKAHIKI!
LONOIKAMAKAHIKI!
LONOIKAMAKAHIKI!

Welina ke aloha e ka ʻOhana.

After careful planning and consideration of our ceremonies and safety, we were able to create protocols that not only ensured safe engagement, they also arguably lifted our ceremonial focus. Win–win for sure. Having SO MUCH aloha in getting us there was critical to our huakaʻi. Lono is fed and is bringing his kino lau to re-green Kanaloa Moku. Mahalo nui to everyone who contributed to us being on Kahoʻolawe to fulfill our kuleana Makahiki. It was certainly a collective effort.

I wanted to share a bit about our huakaʻi. Given that there were 17 participants, the work was a bit more for each individual than normal. We were able, nonetheless, to get everything prepared in a timely manner. Pictured below are the new ʻauamo and the first iteration of their stands. The lama was rescued by Tom some years back and he soaked it in his loʻi for a few months before he and Wendal had the 10+ inch in diameter log milled down. Craig took the lead on shaping and carving four kiʻi into the ʻauamo. One day, we hope that all the ʻOhana can meet them.

Lama from Hawaiʻi Island, fashioned into ʻauamo to be used for ʻAha Makahiki.

Ultimately, the access went well because of all the planning, foresight, collective effort, and, of course, Lono's will for us to be there. Part of that effort was the tremendous food prep. D Mar led that effort and ran the kitchen. Kelvin managed the water. We had super ʻono grinds and clean water.

We learned a lot from this process. Makahiki will change moving forward because of what we learned. For example, pre-Makahiki video conferencing is critical to preparedness. Being mākaukau translates to better ceremonial focus.

Anyway, as we enter our fourth decade of Makahiki practice on Kahoʻolawe, we all wish you good health and prosperity. We plan to start planning our closing soon. We'll keep you in the loop.

Me ke aloha nō,
Kaliko.

ʻAha Makahiki during the Covid-19 pandemic. Social distancing, ceremony-appropriate face coverings, and a sequence of simultaneous hā in place of honi. Photo: Leimomi Wheeler