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Nā Hōkū

Nā Inoa Malama
celestial references of month names

Most of the inoa malama (month names) we are familiar with
refer to stars and constellations
from Makali‘i to Nā Māhoe.

In this sequence of star-rises, Makali‘i (Pleiades) rises first, then Hinaia‘ele‘ele (Aldebaran/Hyades), then Nā Kao (Orion’s Belt and Sword), which includes Welo (Orion‘s Belt) and Kā‘elo (Betelgeuse), followed by Kaulua (Sirius), and Nā Māhoe (Nana), which includes Māhoe Mua (Castor) and Māhoe Hope (Pollux).

‘IKUWĀ 2023 IMAGES edit_0001s_0000_7_18 Hilo.jpg

Ikiiki

Ikiiki follows Nā Māhoe, however, Ikiiki rises nearly three hours later. Ikiiki usually
refers to Regulus, the brightest star in Leo. Though at times, Ikiiki may describe the

entire constellation of Leo.

‘Ikuwā•Welehu & Pe‘a

Both ‘Ikuwā and Welehu refer to Antares, the feature star of Mānaiakalani (Māui’s
Fishhook, Scorpio). Mānaiakalani rises around the same time that Hinaia‘ele‘ele and
Orion set. Looking southward from Mānaiakalani, we can find Pe‘a (Southern Cross)
especially around kauwela (summer). While Pe‘a is not referred to by any month name, it is one of the most relevant constellations in the night sky.

MĀHOE HOPE 2 IMAGES_Hoaka.jpg
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