How about an uma match?

Makahiki tournaments have been revived at schools across Hawaiʻi, including at HPA’s Village Campus — where students in both the Lower and Middle Schools have participated each fall for the past 13 years. The Makahiki games and sports are a Native Hawaiian tradition that honors Lono, the god of peace and agriculture. As an offering and tribute, war and major work were put on hold, and instead everyone joined in athletic games like uma (arm wrestling) or moa pāheʻe (sliding dart) and hukihuki hoʻoikaika (tug of war).

Makahiki sporting events were well-designed to develop physical and mental strength — a tradition that continues today at HPA with the full integration of Kumu Kūwalu Anakalea’s Hawaiian studies program and physical education coaches Betsy Tranquilli and Lydia Blackburn’s curriculum. (See page 30.) As part of HPA’s Wā Pilina program, eighth grade students referee the Lower School Makahiki games; and twelfth-graders referee the Middle School games. Each year, Ka Makani also continue to honor the traditions of Hawaiʻi by gathering donations for Makahiki food baskets that are shared with friends and family at Kanu o ka ʻĀina, a participating school in our annual Makahiki tournament. •