ʻAha Pule
ʻĀina Holo

A six-day community ceremonial relay around the circumference of Hawaiʻi island to bring in the Makahiki Season.

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. While the modern ceremonial run 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.

  • 5:30a
    Gather at Kuahu ʻo Kūkiaʻimauna
    (Hale Pohaku) Maunakea

    6:00a
    ʻAha Alaula
    ʻAha Mauna

    8:00a
    Breakfast Potluck 

  • 4:30p
    Gather at Hāmākua Harvest, Honokaʻa
    w/ ʻAha at 5:00p

    5:30p
    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 Alaula 

    6:30a 
    Run: Honokaʻa

    2:30p
    Run: Waiohinu → Manuka → Miloliʻi

    6:00-7:00p 
    arrival window at Miloliʻi
    w/ ʻAha at 6:30p

    8:00p
    Dinner (ʻai pono/local potluck)
    Space is limited, if possible plan
    accommodations for this night elsewhere     Laupahoehoe - Hilo

    12:00a-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 → Kīlauea

    6:00-7:00p
    Arrival window at Kīlauea, Kanikolea bluff
    w/ ʻAha at 6:30p

    8:00p
    Arrival at Volcano Charter School
    Dinner (ʻai pono/local potluck)

  • 5:30a
    Gather at Kīlauea, Kanikolea bluff
    w/ ‘Aha Alaula 

    6:30a 
    Run: Kīlauea → Pahala → Naʻalehu → Waiohinu

    1:00-2:00p
    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 → Miloliʻi

    6:00-7:00p 
    arrival window at Miloliʻi
    w/ ʻAha at 6:30p

    8:00p
    Dinner (ʻai pono/local potluck)
    Space is limited,
    if possible plan accommodations for this night elsewhere

  • 5:30a 
    Gather at Miloliʻi
    w/ ʻAha Alaula 

    6:00a
    ‘Aha to send off wa’a

    6:30a
    Paddle: Miloliʻi → Honomu → Honaunau

    9:30a-10:00a
    Runner arrival window at Puʻuhonua o Honaunau
    w/ ʻAha Hale ʻO Keawe

    10:00a - 11:00a
    Waʻa arrival window of waʻa at Kealakekua Bay
    w/ ʻAha at Hikiau Heiau 

    11:30a
    Run: Kealakekua → Keauhou → Kailua

    1:00p - 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 → Kawaihae

    7:00-8:00p
    arrival window Kawaihae, Puʻukohola Heiau
    w/ ʻAha at 7:30p

    8:00p
    Dinner at Lonouoali'i
    (ʻai pono/local potluck)

  • 5:30a
    Gather in front Puʻukohola heiau
    w/ ‘Aha Alaula

    6:30a 
    Run: Kawaihae → Mahukona → Hāwī → Kapaʻau

    9:00a-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 → Waimea

    1:00p-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 → Honokaʻa

    6:00p-7:00p
    arrival window at Honokaʻa Park
    w/ ʻAha at 6:30p

    7:00p
    ʻAha 'Āina at Honoka'a Peoples Theater to follow
    ‘Ai pono ‘ai local ceremonial potluck

Pre-Run Ceremonies
Ceremonies at Kuahu ʻo Kūkiaʻimauna, the summit of Mauna Kea and Lake Waiau, sanctify and anchor the Lono prayer staff. No ka palekana a me ka pōmaikaʻi o ka ʻAha Pule ʻĀina Holo.

Opening Ceremonies
At Hāmākua Harvest in Honoka‘a, community and runners gather for a welcome ceremony led by ‘Aha, concluding in a ceremonial feast, setting the year’s intention.

Lā Holo 1
The morning begins with the Lono in Honokaʻa, running through Laupahoehoe 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.

Lā Holo 2
From Kīlauea runners take the Lono to Pahala, run through and honor the traditional Makahiki grounds before Na‘alehu, to Waiohinu Park where Ka‘ū families host lunch. The run continues to Manuka and ends with ʻAha and ʻai Pono in Miloliʻi. 

Lā Holo 3
The Lono is sent on waʻa through Miloliʻi, and Honaunau 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 Hapuna, concluding with ʻaha at Pu‘ukoholā Heiau and ʻai pono at Lonouoaliʻi.

Final Day
After an ʻaha alula at Puʻukohola heiau, runners take the Lono through Mahukona, Hāwi, 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 ‘Aha 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 Waipi‘o lookout, then through Kukuihaele, Kapulena, finishing in Honoka‘a Park. An ʻAi Pono ceremonial feast at Honokaʻa Peopleʻs Theater concludes the ʻAha Pule ʻĀina Holo Run. 

  • 5:30a
    Gather at Kuahu ʻo Kūkiaʻimauna
    (Hale Pohaku) Maunakea

    6:00a
    ʻAha Alaula
    ʻAha Mauna

    8:00a
    Breakfast Potluck 

  • 4:30p
    Gather at Hāmākua Harvest, Honokaʻa
    w/ ʻAha at 5:00p

    5:30p
    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 Alaula 

    6:30a 
    Run: Honokaʻa - Laupahoehoe - Hilo

    12:00a-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 - Kīlauea

    6:00-7:00p
    Arrival window at Kīlauea, Kanikolea bluff
    w/ ʻAha at 6:30p

    8:00p
    Arrival at Volcano Charter School
    Dinner (ʻai pono/local potluck)

  • 5:30a
    Gather at Kīlauea, Kanikolea bluff
    w/ ‘Aha Alaula 

    6:30a 
    Run: Kīlauea - Pahala - Naʻalehu - Waiohinu

    1:00-2:00p
    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 - Miloliʻi

    6:00-7:00p 
    arrival window at Miloliʻi
    w/ ʻAha at 6:30p

    8:00p
    Dinner (ʻai pono/local potluck)
    Space is limited,
    if possible plan accommodations for this night elsewhere

  • 5:30a 
    Gather at Miloliʻi
    w/ ʻAha Alaula 

    6:00a
    ‘Aha to send off wa’a

    6:30a
    Paddle: Miloliʻi - Honomu - Honaunau

    9:30a-10:00a
    Runner arrival window at Puʻuhonua o Honaunau
    w/ ʻAha Hale ʻO Keawe

    10:00a - 11:00a
    Waʻa arrival window of waʻa at Kealakekua Bay
    w/ ʻAha at Hikiau Heiau 

    11:30a
    Run: Kealakekua - Keauhou - Kailua

    1:00p - 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 - Kawaihae

    7:00-8:00p
    arrival window Kawaihae, Puʻukohola Heiau
    w/ ʻAha at 7:30p

    8:00p
    Dinner at Lonouoali'i
    (ʻai pono/local potluck)

  • 5:30a
    Gather in front Puʻukohola heiau
    w/ ‘Aha Alaula

    6:30a 
    Run: Kawaihae - Mahukona - Hāwī - Kapaʻau

    9:00a-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 - Waimea

    1:00p-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 - Honokaʻa

    6:00p-7:00p
    arrival window at Honokaʻa Park
    w/ ʻAha at 6:30p

    7:00p
    ʻAha 'Āina at Honoka'a Peoples Theater to follow
    ‘Ai pono ‘ai local ceremonial potluck

THE LONO RUN

ʻAHA PULE
ʻĀINA HOLO

A six-day community ceremonial relay around the circumference of Hawaiʻi island to bring in the Makahiki Season.

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. While the modern ceremonial run 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.

Sat Nov 16 Lā Holo 3
Miloliʻi to Kawaihae

The Lono is sent on waʻa through Miloliʻi, and Honaunau 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 Hapuna, concluding with ʻaha at Pu‘ukoholā Heiau and ʻai pono at Lonouoaliʻi.

5:30a 
Gather at Miloliʻi
w/ ʻAha Alaula 

6:00a
‘Aha to send off wa’a

6:30a
Paddle: Miloliʻi - Honomu - Honaunau

9:30a-10:00a
Runner arrival window
at Puʻuhonua o Honaunau
w/ ʻAha Hale ʻO Keawe

10:00a - 11:00a
Waʻa arrival window
of waʻa at Kealakekua Bay
w/ ʻAha at Hikiau Heiau 

11:30a
Run: Kealakekua - Keauhou - Kailua

1:00p - 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 - Kawaihae

7:00-8:00p
arrival window
Kawaihae, Puʻukohola Heiau
w/ ʻAha at 7:30p

8:00p
Dinner at Lonouoali'i
(ʻai pono/local potluck)