For the past 8 years, Hana School has participated in the annual Makahiki Games on Moloka’i. The Makahiki season is from October to late January. It was a time to rest from conflict, make amends, exercise skills-building , offer tithes for a successful harvest and petition for the bountiful rains of Lono. Our preparations began in November at La Ku’okoa, with pule and na mea ho’omakaukau. Students practiced their Makahiki events by challenging each other, while teachers planned fundraisers for travel and food costs.

This year we are proud to honor Hana’s Ano Koa Ki’eki’e Champion, Huaka Park who won the Middle School Decathlon. He is joined by other teammates who earned individual honors; Tyren Feliciano for Moa Pahe’e, Tu’upua Helekahi for Haka Moa and Pa Uma, and Namele Lind and Ho’ola’I Kanakaole for Lele pahu.

Kumu and makua kept the trip academically relevant by incorporating Hawaiian tradition with DOE standards. The introduction of Hopena A’o cultural standards offer value systems such as A Strengthened Sense of Belonging, A Strenghtened Sense of Responsibility, and Overall Strenthened Senses for Excellence, Aloha, Well Being; and for Hawai’I Nei. Students also engaged in competitive exchange, shared performances, protocol and environmental stewardship with other schools from across the state.

With the closure of the Molokai Ferry last year, the group raised enough funds to charter the retired ferry. A special thanks to the Queen Lili’uokalani Children’s Center and the Lahaina Preparatory Academy for their unwavering support. Also Mahalo to Mr. Paul and the Hana School Staff for providing the bus service and additional funds to make this all possible!