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To herald the Makahiki season, aliʻi and kahuna once traversed the island in a clockwise procession, bearing the sacred Lonomakua staff through each district to gather tribute, purify the land, and evaluate the well-being of both the land and its people.
ʻAha Pule ʻĀina Holo is a six-day modern ceremonial run that honors this ancient practice by integrating many of its elements. It is important to note that ʻAha Pule ʻĀina Holo stands as a new ceremony; it is not a re-creation or substitute for the original.
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To usher in the Makahiki season, aliʻi and kahuna traditionally carried the Lonomakua staff around the island in a clockwise direction, stopping in each district to collect tribute, cleanse the land, and assess the health of both the land and its people. Although the modern ceremonial run incorporates many elements from this ancient tradition, Lanakila emphasizes that this six day relay around the circumference of Hawaiʻi island represents a new ceremony, distinct from a mere re-creation or replacement of the original.
The symbolism of Makahiki is deeply woven into the run: each footfall symbolizes a ku‘i that awakens and stimulates the ʻaina. Prior to the run, a gathering of Hawaiian practitioners convenes on Maunakea, performing ceremonies at Hale o Kū Kia‘i Mauna (House of the Maunakea Guardians) and at the mountain's summit. This ceremonial preparation culminates in the sanctification of the Lono ke Kukini Pule staff at Lake Waiau, where it is officially adorned. The journey to the island's piko concludes with prayers at Pu‘u Kohe, a cinder cone situated in the island's center, overlooking the Pōhakuloa Training Area.
Each district is represented by a coordinator who organizes the runners, facilitating the relay handoff of the Lono staff throughout their respective areas. A dedicated core group of long-distance runners accompanies the staff each day. Additionally, the customs of each district dictate how runners and guests are greeted and cared for, encompassing food, lodging, and ceremonial protocols.
Schedule Overview:
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5:30a
Gather at Kuahu ʻo Kūkiaʻimauna
(Hale Pohaku) Maunakea6:00a
ʻAha Alaula
ʻAha Mauna8:00a
Breakfast Potluck -
4:30p
Gather at Hāmākua Harvest, Honokaʻa
w/ ʻAha at 5:00p5:30p
Welcome ceremony community and runners.
Set the intention of the year.6:00p
‘Aha ʻĀina
Dinner
(ʻai pono/local potluck) -
5:30a
Gather at Honokaʻa park
w/ ʻAha Alaula6:30a
Run: Honokaʻa2:30p
Run: Waiohinu → Manuka → Miloliʻi6:00-7:00p
arrival window at Miloliʻi
w/ ʻAha at 6:30p8:00p
Dinner (ʻai pono/local potluck)
Space is limited, if possible plan
accommodations for this night elsewhere Laupahoehoe - Hilo12:00a-1:00p
arrival window at Hilo Kamehameha Statue
w/ ʻAha at 12:30p
Lunch (ʻai pono/local potluck)
Fresh Hilo runners, be ready to run!1:30p
Run Hilo → Keaʻau → Olaʻa → Kīlauea6:00-7:00p
Arrival window at Kīlauea, Kanikolea bluff
w/ ʻAha at 6:30p8:00p
Arrival at Volcano Charter School
Dinner (ʻai pono/local potluck) -
5:30a
Gather at Kīlauea, Kanikolea bluff
w/ ‘Aha Alaula6:30a
Run: Kīlauea → Pahala → Naʻalehu → Waiohinu1:00-2:00p
arrival window at Waiohinu Park
w/ ʻAha at 1:30p
Lunch (ʻai pono/local potluck)
Fresh Ka’ū runners, be ready to run!2:30p
Run: Waiohinu → Manuka → Miloliʻi6:00-7:00p
arrival window at Miloliʻi
w/ ʻAha at 6:30p8:00p
Dinner (ʻai pono/local potluck)
Space is limited,
if possible plan accommodations for this night elsewhere -
5:30a
Gather at Miloliʻi
w/ ʻAha Alaula6:00a
‘Aha to send off wa’a6:30a
Paddle: Miloliʻi → Honomu → Honaunau9:30a-10:00a
Runner arrival window at Puʻuhonua o Honaunau
w/ ʻAha Hale ʻO Keawe10:00a - 11:00a
Waʻa arrival window of waʻa at Kealakekua Bay
w/ ʻAha at Hikiau Heiau11:30a
Run: Kealakekua → Keauhou → Kailua1:00p - 2:00p
arrival window at old Kona airport
w/ ʻAha at 1:30p
Lunch (ʻai pono/local potluck)
Fresh Kona runners, ready to run!2:30p
Run: Kona → Waikoloa → Hapuna → Kawaihae7:00-8:00p
arrival window Kawaihae, Puʻukohola Heiau
w/ ʻAha at 7:30p8:00p
Dinner at Lonouoali'i
(ʻai pono/local potluck) -
5:30a
Gather in front Puʻukohola heiau
w/ ‘Aha Alaula6:30a
Run: Kawaihae → Mahukona → Hāwī → Kapaʻau9:00a-10:00a
arrival window at Kapaʻau, Kamehameha Statue
w/ ʻAha at 10:30a
Runners to Mountain Road ready to run!11:00a
Run: Kapaʻau → Puanui → Waika → Manaua → Waimea1:00p-2:00p
arrival window at Pūnana Leo, Hawaiian Homes Hall
w/ ʻAha at 1:30p
Lunch hosted by Ka Ua Pali Loa
Long distance runners to run!2:30p
Run: Mahiki → Waipiʻo → Kukuihaele → Kapulena → Honokaʻa6:00p-7:00p
arrival window at Honokaʻa Park
w/ ʻAha at 6:30p7:00p
ʻAha 'Āina at Honoka'a Peoples Theater to follow
‘Ai pono ‘ai local ceremonial potluck
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LĀ HOLO 1
Honokaʻa → Kīlauea
The morning begins with the Lono in Honokaʻa, running through Laupāhoehoe and ending at the Kamehameha statue in Hilo. The journey continues up Volcano Highway, through Keaʻau, Olaʻa, and ends at Kīlauea, at Kanikolea bluff. The day concludes with ʻAha and ʻai pono at Volcano Charter School.
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5:30a
Gather at Honokaʻa park
w/ ʻAha Alaula6:30a
Run: Honokaʻa2:30p
Run: Waiohinu → Manuka → Miloliʻi6:00-7:00p
arrival window at Miloliʻi
w/ ʻAha at 6:30p8:00p
Dinner (ʻai pono/local potluck)
Space is limited, if possible plan
accommodations for this night elsewhere Laupahoehoe - Hilo12:00a-1:00p
arrival window at Hilo Kamehameha Statue
w/ ʻAha at 12:30p
Lunch (ʻai pono/local potluck)
Fresh Hilo runners, be ready to run!1:30p
Run Hilo → Keaʻau → Olaʻa → Kīlauea6:00-7:00p
Arrival window at Kīlauea, Kanikolea bluff
w/ ʻAha at 6:30p8:00p
Arrival at Volcano Charter School
Dinner (ʻai pono/local potluck)
LĀ HOLO 2
Kīlauea → Miloliʻi
From Kīlauea runners take the Lono to Pāhala, run through and honor the traditional Makahiki grounds before Nāʻālehu, to Waiʻōhinu Park where Kaʻū families host lunch. The run continues to Manuka and ends with ʻAha and ʻai Pono in Miloliʻi. Space is limited, if possible plan accommodations for this night elsewhere
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5:30a
Gather at Kīlauea, Kanikolea bluff w/ ʻAha Alaula6:30a
Run: Kīlauea – Pāhala – Nāʻālehu – Waiʻōhinu1:00–2:00p
Arrival window at Waiʻōhinu Park w/ ʻAha at 1:30pLunch (ʻai pono/local potluck)
Fresh Kaʻū runners, be ready to run!2:30p
Run: Waiʻōhinu – Manuka – Miloliʻi6:00–7:00p
Arrival window at Miloliʻi w/ ʻAha at 6:30p8:00p
Dinner (ʻai pono/local potluck)
LĀ HOLO 3
Miloliʻi → Kawaihae
The Lono is sent on waʻa through Miloliʻi, and Hōnaunau and returns to Kealakekua Bay where paddlers swim the Lono ashore to Hikiau Heiau. The run continues through Keauhou, Kailua with ʻaha and ʻai pono at Old Airport. The second half of the day runs the Lono through Kona, Waikoloa and Hāpuna, concluding with ʻAha at Puʻukoholā Heiau and ʻai pono at Lonoualiʻi.
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5:30a
Gather at Miloliʻi w/ ʻAha Alaula6:00a
ʻAha to send off waʻa6:30a
Paddle: Miloliʻi – Hōnaunau – Honomu9:30a–10:00a
Runner arrival window at Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau w/ ʻAha Hale ʻO Keawe10:00a–11:00a
Waʻa arrival window at Kealakekua Bay w/ ʻAha at Hikiau Heiau11:30a
Run: Kealakekua – Keauhou – Kailua1:00–2:00p
Arrival window at old Kona airport w/ ʻAha at 1:30pLunch (ʻai pono/local potluck)
Fresh Kona runners, ready to run!2:30p
Run: Kona – Waikoloa – Hāpuna – Kawaihae7:00–8:00p
Arrival window Kawaihae, Puʻukoholā Heiau w/ ʻAha at 7:30p8:00p
Dinner at Lonoualiʻi
(ʻai pono/local potluck)
FINAL DAY
Kawaihae → Honoka’a
After an ʻaha alaula at Puʻukoholā heiau, runners take the Lono through Mahukona, Hāwī, Kapaʻau and are welcomed at the King Kamehameha statue. They continue over Kohala Mountain Road through Puanui, Waika and stop at Manaua rain rock. The morning concludes with lunch by Ka Ua Pali Loa at ʻAha Pūnana Leo o Waimea.
The second part of the day has long distance runners take the Lono from Mud Lane, through Mahiki and emerge at Waipiʻo lookout, then through Kukuihaele, Kapulena, finishing in Honokaʻa Park. An ʻAi Pono ceremonial feast at Honokaʻa People’s Theater concludes ʻAha Pule ʻĀina Holo.
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5:30a
Gather in front Puʻukoholā Heiau w/ ʻAha Alaula6:30a
Run: Kawaihae – Mahukona – Hāwī – Kapaʻau9:00–10:00a
Arrival window at Kapaʻau, Kamehameha Statue w/ ʻAha at10:30a
Runners to mountain road ready to run!11:00a
Run: Kapaʻau – Puanui – Waika – Manaua – Waimea1:00–2:00p
Arrival window at Pūnana Leo, Hawaiian Homes Hall w/ ʻAha at1:30p
Lunch hosted by Ka Ua Pali Loa
Long distance runners to run!2:30p
Run: Mahiki – Waipiʻo – Kukuihaele – Kapulena – Honokaʻa6:00–7:00p
Arrival window at Honokaʻa Park w/ ʻAha at 6:30p7:00p
ʻAha ʻĀina at Honokaʻa People’s Theater
ʻAi pono ʻai local ceremonial potluck
