E Komo Mai · Welcome
Oli & Protocol
A short primer so you arrive ready to listen. Maka‘i Fest is hosted in Hawaiʻi with hoʻokipa, and the day opens in the Hawaiian way. Knowing a little before you come is part of how we remember and uplift — appreciating where you stand, as narrated by your hosts.
What is an Oli?
An oli is a Hawaiian chant — offered without dance — used to welcome, to ask permission, to honor, and to mark a moment as sacred. At Maka‘i Fest, an oli opens the day: a voice calling the community together and grounding the gathering in this place.
The Festival Oli
“The oli for Maka‘i Fest will be shared here, with the blessing of our cultural host.”
Chant and translation forthcoming.
ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi — Words to Know
E komo mai
Welcome; come in.
Hoʻokipa
Hospitality — to host and welcome with generosity.
Oli
A Hawaiian chant, offered without dance.
Kuleana
Responsibility; the privilege and duty we carry.
Mālama
To care for, tend, and protect.
ʻĀina
Land; that which feeds and sustains us.
Aloha ʻāina
Deep love and respect for the land.
Mahalo
Gratitude; thanks.
How the Day Opens
- 01The gathering opens with an oli offered by our cultural host. When it begins, please pause and give your attention.
- 02Stand if you are able, set phones to silent, and simply listen — an oli is an offering, not a performance.
- 03When the host invites a response or welcomes everyone in, enter together, with an open heart.
- 04Carry that same care through the day: toward the ʻāina, the veterans being honored, and one another.
The day's specific protocol is led by our cultural host and shared on arrival.
A Sense of Place — Keʻehi
Maka‘i Fest gathers in the Moanalua–Keʻehi region of Oʻahu — lands with their own history, names, and stories. Throughout the day, cultural practitioners narrate these surroundings, so the festival is not only something you attend, but a place you come to know.
Place history and moʻolelo to be expanded with our cultural host.
Come as You Are, Leave Knowing More
Plan your visit, then let the day — and its hosts — show you this place.