Makahiki

Commoners stopped work, made offerings to the chief or aliʻi, and then spent their time practicing sports, feasting, dancing, and renewing communal bonds.

The Konohiki, a class of chiefs who managed land, acted as tax collector, collected agricultural and aquacultural products such as pigs, taro, sweet potatoes, dry fish, kapa and mats.

Offerings were also made at ahu, stone altars set up at the boundary lines of each ahupuaʻa (ridge-to-reef geographical division).

All war was outlawed to allow unimpeded passage of the image of Lono (Akua Loa, a long pole with a strip of tapa and other embellishments attached).

At each ahupuaʻa its caretakers presented hoʻokupu to the image of Lono, a fertility god who caused things to grow and who gave plenty and prosperity.

The Akua Loa was adorned with white kapa streamers and the king placed a niho palaoa necklace on the deity.

[5] Kanaka Maoli (native Hawaians) were passionate about the mental games, which consisted of riddles, recitation of genealogies, proverbs, and knowledge of hidden meanings.

[6] Finally the waʻa ʻauhau (tax canoe) — was loaded with hoʻokupu and taken out to sea where it was set adrift as a gift to Lono.

On the Island of Hawaiʻi, when Makaliʻi (Pleiades) star cluster rises shortly after sunset, usually on November 17, the following crescent moon marks the beginning.

On Oʻahu, it may begin when Makaliʻi rises above Puʻu o Mahuka Heiau, as seen from Kaena Point, or when the star ʻAʻa (Sirius) appears in conjunction with a particular land form high on a cliff.