Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 20, Number 1, 1 January 2003 — Makahiki a season of growth, renewal [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Makahiki a season of growth, renewal

Donald B. Cataluna Vice Chair, Trustee, Kaua'i and Ni'ihau

Let us define the meaning of makahiki. Maka, "eye," refers to the constellation of the Pleiades. Hiki is a sign of movement. Together, they signify the rising of the Pleiades in the heavens corresponding with the sun's turn to the northward, bringing warmth again to the earth, the growth of plants and the spawning of fish. It is an ancient festival beginning in mid-October and lasting about four months with sports and religious

activities and a taboo on war - let's make peaee last forever. Our ancestral god Lono, a mild god who did not demand human sacrifice, was the god of cultivated food plants and sent rain and sunshine upon the crops and spawn to fill the fishing stations. Indeed, he was part of the makahiki and enhanced its advance. We are blessed with history and culture that gives us the opportunity to work together and see that our

brother and sister Hawaiians in the future will nurture our culture and traditions. If we don't work together and the continued factions within the Hawaiian community remain splintered, then we are all paddling our canoes to no avail. We must become one entity and use our energy to strive for what is rightfully ours. As we begin the New Year, let us look forward to the warming of the earth, the rich growth of plants and

spawning of fish to enneh our life. Let us share with our brother and sister Hawaiians and embrace their aloha that will give us the strength needed to reach our goals. Let us remember our heritage and thank the ancient gods for their support for our continued struggle to reach our goals. This makahiki is our beginning. Let us all have a terrific and blessed New Year! ■