HAMAKUA — This Saturday, starting at 8:30 a.m., youngsters of all ages will gather at Waipio Cookhouse in Kukuihaele for the first-ever Hamakua Makahiki Games.
They are presented by the Hamakua Youth Center — a free, drop-in, after-school program for kids — as a way to share Hawaiian culture, and encourage the youth to enjoy some healthy activity. It’s also part of Waipio Cookhouse’s first anniversary celebration.
“It is so generous of Waipio Cookhouse to let us use their property,” said Hamakua Youth Center (HYC) Director Mahealani Maikui.
The farm-to-table restaurant opened last October.
“We have about 22 keiki who will be participating in the games, and all our kids are first-timers,” said Maikui. “We like to get them together and show them there are other things besides electronics that they can do for fun.”
Competition will be bracketed by grade-level: K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12. The games include hukihuki (team tug-of-war), ulu maika (lawn bowling), kukini (running), hakamoa (“chicken fight”), and konane (checkers) for all age groups. Pa uma (chest pushing), moa pahee (dart sliding), oo ihe (spear throwing) and pohaku hooikaika (rock throwing) will be offered for grade 6 and up.
“They definitely like the hukihuki best,” said Maikui.
Boys and girls of all ages are invited to come and enjoy the free event and test their skills, and it’s not necessary to be affiliated with HYC or any other organization.
Larry Vidlak, owner-operator of Waipio Cookhouse, and his partner Colleen Gold are happy to be able to host the event.
“I’ve wanted to present Makahiki games for many years,” Vidlak said. “Because of the heritage, Hamakua should be represented. The piko, the valley, is right here.”
Vidlak and Gold purchased the Kukuihaele property in 2010, cleared the land, brought in sheep and cattle and planted fruit trees. Although it wasn’t their original intention, they eventually were awarded the first-of-its-kind certificate from the State Department of Agriculture to operate a restaurant at their 16-acre ranch as an agriculture-based commercial operation.
“I only knew two things about the restaurant business,” said Vidlak, “How to wash dishes and how to eat.”
The restaurant serves predominantly food from the ranch, and other foods from across the state.
Vidlak is more than pleased to be working with young people, inviting school groups to the ranch and restaurant, and encouraging them to seek agriculture careers. He said that he always believed in HYC and he loves being able to partner with them.
“We’re working with the Youth Center now, and I would like to see them come help me with a banana program,” said Vidlak. “I’ve got a lot of olena too, and I want to get into a coconut program, with our dwarf trees from Kauai.”
HYC has other agriculture programs and projects in the works, including a thriving school garden, and events being planned for next year. These align with their Hawaiian culture programs, like Ka Hamakua Makahiki, to provide a well-rounded variety of educational activities for body and soul.
“We are encouraging families from our area to participate, and then we can take our top contenders to Ka Moku o Keawe Makahiki,” said Maikui.
The larger competition, produced by the non-profit Pukoa Kani Aina, happens in January in Waimea Park.
Ka Hamakua Makahiki info: Ruby at 217-5421
Hamakua Youth Center: hamakuayouthcenter.org or 775-0976
