The traditional Hawaiian festival season associated with the god Lono is called Makahiki.
Makahiki was tied to the agricultural cycle and the arrival of the rainy season. During this period, people brought offerings to chiefs and temples, took part in communal celebrations, and competed in sports such as wrestling, running, and spear throwing.
The season had an important political function as well as a religious one. Tribute collection reinforced the relationship between commoners, chiefs, and the ruling aliʻi. The temporary prohibition of warfare helped create a period of peace across much of the islands.
Although Makahiki is often translated as “New Year,” that label can be misleading. It was a longer seasonal observance whose timing and ceremonies varied within the Hawaiian cultural tradition.