Szn Check In

Aloha and happy holidays. We hope you’re able to have a relaxing time with family. We are back from our newsletter break during Makaliʻi. The malama is Kāʻelo. The anahulu is Hoʻonui. Polohiwa a Kanaloa, Winter Solstice occurred in line with the Hilo moon this year. It is makahiki season and Hoʻoilo, wet season; a time of Lono. Mahalo for this rain we’ve been getting in Hilo and Hāmākua.

Following is an excerpt from Kūkulu ke ea a Kanaloa: The Culture Plan For Kanaloa Kahoʻolawe by Dr. Pualani Kanakaʻole Kanahele and The Edith Kanakaʻole Foundation with co-authors Ms. Huihui Kanahele-Mossman, Ms. Ann Kalei Nuʻuhiwa, and Mr. Kaumakaiwapoʻohalahiʻipaka Kealiʻikanakaʻole

Nā Ao Polohiwa and Ka Piko o ka Honua

Ke Alanui Polohiwa a Kāne and Ke Polohiwa a Kanakaloa are nā Ao Polohiwa. The ao polohiwa are the boundaries of the sun’s travels. Ao can be interpreted as realm, world, or space. Polohiwa means a dark space.

The equator on the earth is called the Piko o ka Honua, which sits on the piko or the center of the earth. All three junctures run east to west. Kāne’s dark realm resides in the north, beginning at the equator and incudes the latitudinal space 23.5° below the equator.

Both ao polohiwa mark the edges of the Hawaiian’s universe as anything beyond the Ao Polohiwa a Kāne, was considered as lewa (space) and anything beyond the Ao Polohiwa a Kanaloa was considered as lipo (darkness). These intervals are known as the solstices that mark the furthest trek of the sun’s travels.

Some scholars have also called these boundaries the alanui, road, or by other variations which mean trek or path such as ala ʻula, red road, or maʻaweʻula, red track. These names all note that Hawaiians observed the passage of the sun from one ao to the next. Today, we know that the seasons on the entire planet change when the earth tilts on its axis towards and away from the sun.

Ao Polohiwa a Kanaloa, Winter Solstice

From the piko o ka Honua, the sun appears to move south along the horizon as the earth begins tilting on its axis away from the sun. The earth continues this tilt that shortens the days and lengthens the nights. The sun arrives at the Ao Polohiwa a Kanaloa approximately on December 20th-22nd, which is the Winter Solstice.

Ke Ao Polohiwa a Kanaloa is also known as Ke alanui Polohiwa a Kanaloa. From the time the sun leaves Ka Piko a Wākea (the celestial equator) traveling south it is known as the Kanaloa sun. When the winter solstice transpires on December 21st it is the middle of the Lono season approximately six and a half weeks after the rising of Makaliʻi. A ceremony occurs to mark the sun’s furthest trek in Kanaloa’s world.

This season is marked by the appearance of the large Makaliʻi constellations, the Orionids, Leonids, Geminids, and Quadrantids, meteor showers, heavy rains, storms, thunder, lightning, snow, waterspouts, and low single-pillared rainbows. All the atmospheric activities naturally make an appearance during the Ao Polohiwa Kanaloa time period and ceremony.

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Stay up to date with changes throughout the anahulu (additions or if we’ve run out of stock) by checking back in with this issue on our newsletter’s webpage - updated daily https://gathercore.beehiiv.com

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Hub Happenings

Community Happenings

• Laulau 4 Lāhui on Fri Dec. 26th at 5pm & Sat Dec. 27th at 8am. Making laulau together to feed vulnerable lāhui/houseless/kupuna. Prepping on Friday and wrapping on Saturday. Puaʻa and prepared lāʻī donations accepted, drop off in Puna. DM @moonkinetingz on Instagram. Financial donations accepted through Venmo @Emma-Kalo, put Hanai Hawaiinui in the note.

• Hale O Lono Workday every 2nd Saturday of the month. Jan. 10th, 2026. 9am-11:30am. Join them in connecting with ʻāina through traditional Hawaiian fishpond management in Keaukaha. More info at instagram.com/hale_o_lono and edithkanakaolefoundation.org/sites. Potluck encouraged. Recommended to bring tabis, gloves, sunscreen, and water.

• ʻAha Makahiki Hāmākua on Sat Jan. 10th, 10am-2pm at Paʻauilo Park. Free community event, family and keiki friendly. https://www.instagram.com/p/DSVgduMknNL/

• New Year Fresh Gear Sustainability Event to Mālama ʻĀina on Sun Jan. 11th, 12-5pm at Laulima Nature Center. Stop the spread of invasive species. Mending, rummage sale, field gear cleaning. Gear cleaning station, talks at 2pm, live music at 3:30-4:30pm, potluck, refreshments. https://www.laulimanaturecenter.com/events

• Pepeʻekeo Mill Farmer’s Market on Sun Jan. 18th, 12-4pm. Join for a delightful experience filled with fresh, locally-grown produce, artisanal goods, and a wonderful community atmosphere. Interested vendors? Email [email protected]. HWY 19 & Sugar Mill Rd, Pepeʻekeo, HI 96783.

• Onomea Country Market is a distribution location for Hawaiʻi Farm-To-Car by Hoʻōla Farms; an online farmers market for local produce, meat, eggs, cheese, baked goods, value-added products, and more. SNAP/EBT accepted. Shop online Friday-Monday and pickup on Wednesdays from 3pm-5pm at the Pepeʻekeo location. https://hoolafarms.org/hawaii-farm-to-car/

Follow this link https://linktr.ee/gathercore to make submissions for Community Happenings.