Makahiki (part 3)

Did you know that the games associated with the makahiki are a part of a love story?
It begins with Lono coming to earth and meeting a chiefess, Kaikilani.  They were married and lived in Kealakekua on Hawai‘i mokupuni.  The other chiefs of the land were also enthralled by Kaikilani’s beauty.  One of these chiefs would chant love songs to Kaikilani.  This caused Lono to question her fidelity to him and in a fit of rage and he killed her.  Kaikilani being innocent proclaimed her love to Lono as she died and assured him that she was in fact faithful throughout their marriage.  This caused great grief in Lono and to honor Kaikilani, he initiated the makahiki.
To help relieve his grief he traveled around the island challenging each man to different athletic matches of mokomoko and häkökö.  These would sometimes become hard fought challenges for Lono and helped him to relieve the grief of losing his wife.  Thus began the sports of the makahiki.  Because the initial games were begun in grief over the loss of his wife, Lono declared that during this time war be banned.  When the time came to end the athletic challenges, Lono built a canoe and sailed to Kahiki.  The people brought him food for his journey and he started his journey.  He promised to return not on a canoe, but an island.
With the ban on warring the warriors began challenging each other’s skills in the art of war in a competitive non-war setting.  Of these challenges were; ku‘iku‘i, mokokmoko, häkökö, kükini, käkä lä‘au, ‘ö‘ö ihe, and haka moa.  These were sports were the art of war was obvious in the way the game was played.  Other games help to sharpen the skill of the warrior like the ‘ulu maika, ihe pähe‘e and moa pähe‘e.  The only team activity during this time was hukihuki.  As the victors were determined, tournaments were organized to find the champion of an island.
There were also activities that built dexterity.  There was könane, hei, kimo, hü, and pala‘ie.  To test one’s intellect games of nane and ‘ölelo no‘eau were played.  These were riddles and proverbs taken from what was seen in nature and the interactions of people.
Hula was also a favorite activity during Makahiki.  This was done like the games for the pleasure and enjoyment of both the participant and the audience.  During the Makahiki chants and dances that honored Lono and the themes of significance were performed.  These were mele about rain the fertility.  One final activity of the Makahiki was ha‘i mo‘olelo.  This would take place during meals and men and women ate separately.  The stories would be of great heroes and legends, of family histories and of place.  This was not only entertaining but also education, especially for the keiki.  Many of the stories were told and retold for generations.