Sat, Oct 03
|Kahana, Koʻolauloa
Hoʻolono 2026
Experience the Makahiki season with community games, storytelling, and traditional wayfinding on Oʻahu.
Time & Location
Oct 03, 2026, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM HST
Kahana, Koʻolauloa, Kahana Valley, Hawaii 96716, USA
About the event
Hoʻolono 2026 is a community-centered event held during the seasonal transition from kau wela (summer) to kau hoʻoilo (winter), a time traditionally known as Makahiki season. The purpose of this gathering is to reawaken Makahiki practices within the consciousness of the makaʻāinana and to strengthen community understanding of seasonal shifts through culturally grounded education and engagement.
Guided by the presence and legacy of Lonoikamakahiki, this event centers on cultivating the practice of kilo (intentional observation) as a foundational practice of science. Participants will deepen their awareness of seasonal indicators specific to Koʻolauloa, strengthening their ability to observe and interpret environmental changes.
Activities include:
- Hands-on Makahiki games
- Traditional hana noʻeau (arts and crafts)
- Sharing of moʻolelo (stories)
Families will gain practical knowledge and tools that can be carried into the home and practiced within the ʻohana (family) unit throughout the hoʻoilo season.
A central component of the event includes educational engagement aboard our waʻa kaulua (double-hulled canoe), Ka Laʻi ʻĀhiu. Through this experience, participants will be introduced to the art and science of traditional wayfinding and will have the opportunity to view our ʻāina from the perspective of the kai. This ocean vantage point offers a macro view of the micro environments we inhabit daily, fostering a deeper understanding of land–sea connectivity and seasonal ʻāina preparation for the coming wet season.
By bridging cultural practice, environmental literacy, and intergenerational learning, this event strengthens ʻike kupuna while building long-term community resilience.