Kaulana Mahina: The Hawaiian Moon Calendar

What It Is

The Hawaiian lunar month (malama) follows a 29.5-day cycle. Each month divides into three ten-night periods called anahulu:

• Hoʻonui – waxing nights, when the moon grows.
• Poepoe – full and nearly full nights, when light peaks.
• Hoʻēmi – waning nights, when light fades.

This cycle guided daily labor so humans worked with—not against—environmental flow.

Named Nights and Use

Each night has a name and significance built from observation:

• Hilo – the faint crescent; the start of new energy.
• Hoaka – brightness emerging, alertness returning.
• Kūkahi–Kūpau – four Kū nights, strong for work and fishing.
• ʻOle sequence – nights of rest or repair, low productivity.
• Hua–Māhealani – full-moon abundance, best for harvest and fishing.
• Kāloa–Muku – the closing phase, reflection, and renewal.

Names and timing varied by island, but all followed a common logic of ecological observation (kilo).

Why It Matters

The moon drives Hawaiʻi’s tides, currents, and biological rhythms. Fish feeding, plant vigor, and wind shifts align with its phases. Ancient fishers and farmers used Kaulana Mahina as a practical guide to increase success and sustainability.

Modern Application

1. Learn each night’s name and meaning.
2. Track your harvests, tides, or catches against the moon’s cycle.
3. Use ʻOle nights for maintenance and rest.
4. Schedule heavy labor on Kū or Poepoe nights for efficiency.

Applying Kaulana Mahina restores balance between people and the rhythms of the ʻāina and kai.

Footnotes

1. “Hawaiian Lunar Month” – Polynesian Voyaging Society. Link
2. “Hawaiian Moon Names” – Nākoa Foundation. Link
3. “Hawaiian Moon Phase Calendar” – Hoʻokuaʻāina. Link
4. “Hawaiian Moon Calendar” – University of Hawaiʻi Climate Data Portal. Link
5. “Lunar Calendars” – Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council. Link