Moloka‘i Makahiki Events Receive $6,000 OHA Grant

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has awarded a $6,000 grant to Ka Molokai Makahiki for events in 2019 that perpetuate the traditional Hawaiian Makahiki festival.

Historically, Hawaiians celebrated a four-month long season that began with the appearance of the star constellation Pleiades (Makali‘i) around October and lasted until the setting of Makali‘i sometime in late January, early February. Events during this time included athletic competitions, ceremonies, feasting, fellowship and celebrations of the renewal of the life cycle.

The event will be held from Jan. 24 to 26, 2019 at various locations on Moloka‘i, culminating with its main event and Hoʻolauleʻa at Kaunakakai Baseball Field and the Mitchell Pauʻole Center in Downtown Kaunakakai.

Moloka‘i has proudly continued these long-standing practices to establish an important connection to it’s past. Ka Molokai Makahiki Inc. is a private, non-profit organization founded in 1981 to preserve and perpetuate Hawaiian cultural heritage, increase and foster public understanding, and appreciation for Hawaiian cultural practices and art forms.

“Ka Molokai Makahiki Inc. would like to mahalo OHA for their support of our 2019 event and the continued support for Native Hawaiian Cultural events in the community of Molokaʻi,” said S. Uʻilani Lima.