More than 250 middle school students from across Kauaʻi gathered for the second annual Kauaʻi Middle School Makahiki Championship, an islandwide competition rooted in traditional Hawaiian games and cultural practice.
Thirteen public, charter, and private schools participated, each sending 20 student-athletes to compete for the championship trophy. Kawaikini New Century Public Charter School earned the top title.
Makahiki games are traditional Hawaiian sports and contests played during the Makahiki season, a roughly four-month period traditionally dedicated to peace, harvest, sport, and community. Reestablished in Kauaʻi schools, Makahiki provides students with hands-on cultural learning while promoting teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship.
Students competed in 11 traditional Makahiki events, including hākā moa (one-legged wrestling), pā ʻumeʻume (hand wrestling), hukihuki (tug-of-war), ʻulu maika (stone bowling), kūkini (foot racing), kōnane (Hawaiian strategy game), and ʻōʻō ihe (spear throwing). The competition emphasized skill, focus, and strategy over physical strength alone.
“I think what you have to understand is the cultural significance of Makahiki and even society in Hawaiʻi. It wasn’t all fun and games. It also wasn’t all war. It was a time for war and politics and a time for peace and agriculture,” said founder Kaina Makua, executive director of Kumano I Ke Ala.
Makua, who also plays Kamehameha in “Chief of War,” said Makahiki training helps students build cultural grounding, work ethic, and respect for others. His goal is to use traditional practices to help shape confident, well-rounded young people.
“This is what we want kids to understand. It is not just war and craziness. It brings joy, physicality. Like I said earlier — healthy body, active body, and healthy mind,” Makua said. “If you’re in Hawaiʻi, I think you should be invested in this, regardless of your ethnicity, because it is going to help every kid — humans. It is not just for Hawaiians. It is not just for the people here. It is for the world, really.”
During the second annual Middle School Makahiki Championship for Kauaʻi, girls and boys competed together. Organizers noted the games emphasize skill, resilience, and smarts, rather than strength alone.
The championship was coordinated by Kumano I Ke Ala in partnership with Kauaʻi Community College, Kamehameha Schools Kaiāulu, the Kauaʻi County Fire Department, the Ocean Safety Bureau, and other community organizations.
“Today is the culmination of all of our Makahiki events, all through all of our middle schools here on Kauaʻi,” said Norman Kali, director of community engagement, Kumano I Ke Ala. “We have our regular Makahiki games throughout the day. And this year, the first year, we have kiloʻi pōhaku, which is the stone throw.”