With the rise of Matariki upon us in Aotearoa, a special ceremony called a Kuapola Hautapu was held in Hawai'i this morning to celebrate Makali’i or Matariki.
Combining Hawaiian and Māori culture, the dawn ceremony comes as many Māori, including the Kīngitanga, travelled to Hawai'i for this year’s Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC).
While Makali'i rings in the New Year for Kānaka Maoli in October or November, for Aotearoa in the southern hemisphere, Matariki appears in May or June.
Makali'i or Matariki is not only a significant star cluster for Māori but for all cultures across the Pacific.
It is known as Mataliki in Tonga, Tuvalu, Niue and Tokelau, Matali'i in Samoa, Matari'i in Tahiti and Matariki for Aotearoa and the Cook Islands.
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