Mālama Mākua

02/13/2026

Welina Mai Kākou!

You are invited to join us in Mākua Valley for the closing of Makahiki!

Dates and times are 4PM, Saturday, 02/21 - midday, Sunday, 02/22

There are two ways to participate.
Please choose one and let us know when you submit your name.

1️⃣Option One: General Community Participation

Join the wider community on Sunday morning for the final procession and offering of ho‘okupu at the main Mākua Ahu.
• The procession begins at approximately 10:30AM on Sunday.
• Your name must be on the roster exactly as it appears on your photo ID (Last name, First name).
• Please arrive early (arrive by 10AM) to complete the military safety briefing and liability paperwork before joining the procession.
2️⃣Option Two: Join the Hui Carrying Out the Makahiki Ceremonies

This is for those participating fully in ceremony.
We strongly recommend attending the oli practice
(Thursdays, 6:30PM - 7:30PM, via Google Meets).

If you join the Hui for ceremony inside the Valley, you will need:
• Your name on the roster (Last name, First name); RSVP by 4PM 02/16/26
• To be in the Valley from 4PM 02/21 - midday/12PM 02/22
• Ceremonial attire (details below)
• Sleeping/camping gear
• Food to share for three meals, plus coolers if needed
• Lāʻi/ti leaf or traditional greenery for lei poʻo if desired
• Ability to walk 1.5 miles on unpaved road. (contʻd below)

01/26/2026

Mālama Mākua is proud to announce its first Wai‘anae Film Festival!

Come see the Wai‘anae premiere of the new HIFF award-winning documentary, “Mālama Mākua” on Friday, January 30th, from 6:00pm-8:00pm at LCC Wai‘anae Moku (87-380 Kulaaupuni St) in Room 125.

The film will be followed by a Q&A and open discussion with members of Mālama Mākua and Mikey Inouye, the film’s director.

All the Wai‘anae Film Festival events are FREE and open to the public, with food and drinks provided.

Mahalo to our cosponsors: Mālama Mākua, Wai‘anae Moku Kupuna Council, Ka Lei Maile Ali‘i, Mākua University and LCC Wai‘anae Moku.

01/24/2026

Aunty Lynette’s Debrief:
Wai'anae Film Festival Screening of Mākua Homecoming & Mākua: To Heal a Nation

The films were about Makua Beach and folks reclaiming Hawaiian land in 1983 and 1996. Short films produced by Puhipau and Joan Lander. So good to see all those young faces, some of whom I know (or knew). During the panel discussion afterwards Poka mentioned early organizing efforts and the need for a unifying theme to connect people and place and history. Why were kanaka on the beaches 40+ years ago when the film was made? Where do kanaka go, in our homeland, when a foreign power (America) simply takes over with violence and military power, a peaceful and neutral country? And imprisons our Queen? And then, over time, teaches us a different history, a fake history, that tells us that there wasn’t a r**e but a marriage, and a century later most of us are all happy face. So we try to get over it. Pretend there isn’t trauma. And if you, kanaka, end up houseless, addicted, sick, in prison, and jobless, it’s your own fault. S**t happens. Everybody else is doing okay. And we reflect on what’s happening today. The bully now focusing on taking other countries. They practiced on us and it worked. Not an honorable country. More a renegade and big time bully. Take Venezuela. Take Greenland. Practice makes perfect and everybody hates you. Tradeoff because you making money and you have power. But you still ugly and ugly is your preferred state. Some of us know Hawaii as state in the US is just a story, made up bu****it to justify a theft. We’re not dead yet, thank goodness. Some of us know and research helps us remember. Yes, that was a rant because kanaka being houseless in our own country is an effect of over a century of hewa imposed on us by a bully country that lacked a moral compass then and now. That’s seriously fu**ed up.

(Continued in comments)

01/21/2026

Come join us for a day of celebration and song this Saturday, January 24th in Mākua Valley from 10:30am-5:30pm. Bring food, ukulele and your voice to celebrate 21 Years of No Live Fire in Mākua. We will open with lunch along with a teach-in on Venezuela, followed by kanikapila and karaoke until sundown. Join us to share your love songs and power ballads to Mākua!

RSVP w/ Vince Dodge at (808) 478-6492 by EOD Thursday.

11/24/2025

Welina Mai Kākou! You are invited to join us in Mākua Valley for the opening of Makahiki!

There are two ways to participate. Please choose one and let us know when you submit your name.

1️⃣ OPTION ONE: General Community Participation

Join the wider community on Sunday morning for the final procession and offering of ho‘okupu at Mākua Ahu.
• The procession begins at ~10:30AM on Sunday.
• Your name must be on the roster exactly as it appears on your photo ID (Last name, First name).
• Please arrive by 10am to complete the military safety briefing and liability paperwork before joining the procession.

2️⃣ OPTION TWO: Full Overnight Participation in Ceremony

If you join the Hui for ceremony inside the Valley, you will need:
• Your name on the roster (RSVP by 4PM 12/09/25)
• To be in the Valley overnight from 4pm on 12/13 - midday 12/14
• Ceremonial attire
• Sleeping/camping gear
• Food to share for three meals, plus coolers if needed
• Lāʻī or traditional greenery for lei poʻo if desired
• Ability to walk 1.5 miles on unpaved roads.

Ceremony begins at dark on 12/13 with opening protocol, kapu kuapola, mea ʻai, ʻawa ceremony, ho‘okupu preparation, kūkākūkā. Arrive by 4PM.

Sunday morning begins at 4:00AM with hiʻuwai across the street at Mākua Beach, followed by final ho‘okupu preparation, mea ʻai, dressing, and other preparations.

The first of three processions begins at 8AM, and the third usually finishes by noon. There are breaks between each procession.

We strongly recommend attending oli practice: Mondays and Thursdays, 6:30PM - 7:30PM, via Google Meets.

✅ REGISTRATION
Text your (Last name, First name) exactly as it appears on your photo ID to Erica at 808-542-6313, identifying which option you are committing to. Names are due by 4pm on Tuesday 12/9.

Access to the Valley is controlled by the Army. If your name is not on the roster, or if it does not match your ID, you may be denied entry. Sometimes we can lomi the situation, but it helps greatly if we know in advance. *If something changes or you cannot attend, please notify us.*

If you have further questions, feel free to text Erica at 808-542-6313.

Lonoikamakahiki!

10/27/2024

DEADLINE EXTENDED - register by SUNDAY 10/27!Come join us to celebrate no live fire training forever in Mākua. Registration link and information in bio 🔗

10/20/2024

Come connect with Mākua Valley and celebrate 20 years of peace and the end of live fire training forever in the valley! On November 2 and 3, you are invited to participate in a special community cultural access and celebration in the valley. Link in bio for more information and registration. Register by Friday, October 25!

07/09/2024

• Let the sun set on the Army’s 65 year lease of 6,322 acres of stolen Hawaiian Kingdom.

KŪ KIA’I O’AHU!

Show up and speak out three nights this Tuesday 7/9/24, Wednesday 7/10/24, and Thursday 7/11/24 for sign waving at 5 pm and oral testimony at 6 pm on the Army’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement on three parcels - Makua, Poamoho, and Kahuku.

At each hearing there will be opportunities to make a sign, write your testimony, and to get a FREE shirt (for the first 100 at each hearing). Dozens of groups are expected to attend.

The written comment period is open for the Army’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement the comment period closes on August 7, 2024.  Go to bit.ly/ARMYLEASES to find out how to submit testimony online or via mail.

12/02/2023

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/video/2023/12/02/win-activists-military-says-it-will-permanently-end-live-fire-training-makua-valley/

The U.S. Department Defense has announced the military no longer needs to conduct live-fire training in Makua Valley — now or in the future.

12/02/2023

Aloha kākou! Major good news! The highest levels of the US military leadership stated yesterday in federal court that “they no longer need to conduct live-fire training at MMR [Mākua Military Reservation], now or in the future, and, therefore, no new UXO [unexploded ordnance] will be added to MMR.” There will not be another bomb dropped in Mākua ever again. We held a press conference today in the Valley to share this announcement and reaffirm our mission statement: we mālama Mākua as a piko of peace and hoʻihoʻi ea. For more information on this new development and what it means for the Valley, listen to this interview with Lynette and Sparky on the Hawai'i People's Fund podcast linked below.

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Fl3RyuoXovs5L8m1oPnYy?si=AHhwJCAZQkOZPnf40hTFjg

Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hawai%CA%BBi-rising/id1590786921?i=1000637230330

11/12/2023

So you’re hearing the call to join us in Makua Valley for the opening of Makahiki.
Welina mai kakou!
There are two basic ways to participate.

One:
Join with the rest of the general community on Sunday morning for the procession and offering of hookupu at the main Mākua Ahu. This takes place approximately at 10:30 Sunday morning and you need to make sure that your name is on the roster as it appears on a picture ID. Come a little early as you will be required to sit through the military safety briefing and complete the liability paperwork before joining the procession. See below for the sign-up information.

Two :
Join in with the Hui that carries out the Makahiki ceremonies.
To do this well, we strongly recommend that you show up for Oli practice tomorrow, Sunday the 12th, with uncle William and auntie Melva Aila at Kuilioloa heiau at Pokai Bay, Wai`anae. Practice starts at 9 AM. Please be on time and bring a device to record.
For the ceremony in Makua, you will need the following:
- Your name on the roster
- Plan to be in the Valley from dark Nov 18 till midday Nov 19
- Ceremonial attire
- Sleeping/camping gear
- Food to share for three meals and coolers to keep it chilled if needed
- Lai/ti leaf/traditional greenery for lei poo if you desire
- Be able to walk 1.5 miles on unpaved roads

The ceremonies start at dark on the 18th with opening protocol, kapu kuapola, meaai, awa ceremony, hookupu decoration, kukakuka etc

Please be in the Valley by the time it is dark.

Sunday morning starts at 4 AM with hiuwai across the street at Makua Beach. Followed by final hookupu preparation, meaai, dress up, etc.
The first of the three processions will start at approximately 8 AM with the third completed by noon usually. There are breaks between each procession.

DETAILS
Sign up:
Plz text first and last names as they appear on a picture ID to Vince @ 808-478-6492. We need your names no later than 9 pm Tuesday the 14th. Please understand that the army controls the gate- access into the Valley, and if your name is not on the roster or is different from what’s on your picture ID, you will likely not be allowed in.
Sometimes we can lomi the situation. It’s a big help if we know in advance that you’re going to have a situation at the gate. So please let Vince know as soon as you know.
If you sign up and things change, and you are not going to make it, please have the courtesy to notify us.

Ceremonial attire:
Please use off-white unbleached soft muslin cloth which can be purchased at fabric Mart.
Kane need malo (2 arm spans) and kihei (1.5 yds)
Wahine need kikepa (wrap 2x around the body) and kihei (1.5 yds)
No jewelry plz

Sleeping/camping gear:
You are welcome to set up a tent or canopy to sleep in, in the area just mauka of the pavilion.
You can also bring a mat and/or futon and sleep in the pavilion.
Depending on how large the group is, the awa ceremony may go late and as we are up at 4 AM don’t count on getting a lot of sleep lol.

Meaai (food):
All traditional foods, anything homegrown and free range are preferred and greatly appreciated. It’s a potluck for three meals. We provide fully compostable banana trunk plates. But FYI they don’t hold soupy things well.
All food needs to be put away as there are feral cats around, so please bring coolers to hold your food.
Plz no soda, sweet drinks, energy drinks or coffee.
Please feel free to bring awa if you like.

Lai/greenery for Lei/decoration:
For the ceremony plz bring traditional greenery.
If you are offering hookupu on behalf of ohana or yourself at the end of the third procession, flowers and all manner of beautiful mea from the `Aina are appreciated.

Bring warm clothes. The Valley can get quite chilly. Although Last year’s closing ceremony In March was unseasonably warm, that’s been really rare.

Please visit malamamakua.org. Under Cultural Access you’ll find more information and also the Army’s liability waivers which you can print out and bring completed.

If you have other questions after that, please feel free to give Vince a call @ 808-478-6492

Lono i ka Makahiki!
Aloha Nui!

Mālama Mākua, organized in 1996, strives for the preservation, community access to and return of Mākua Valley, which has been occupied by the U.S. army since World War II, for culturally appropriate use.