Hawaiian Moon Phases

The Hawaiians in traditional times used a calendar based upon the phases of the moon. The year had twelve months of 29.5 phases; every three to six years, a thirteenth lunar month was added. Each month started with the new moon, Hilo and ended with Mauli or Muku, the dark moon.

The moon phases continue to guide present-day fishermen. Below is a description of the moon phases and the fishing practices associated with each.


HILO
• The Hawaiian word Hilo has three meanings: Hilo was a famous Hawaiian navigator, Hilo can mean “twisted” or “braided,” and Hilo is the “first night of the new moon.”
Good beach and reef fishing; women hand-fished; men torch-fished.
• Low tides in the evening and rough seas during the day; calm, warm nights with little wind.
• The Kapu - Kū period of olden days, in honor of the god Kū, forbade planting or fishing during this time, which continued through Kū Lua.

HOAKA
• As with all words in Hawaiian, the word Hoaka has many meanings. The most literal meaning is “crescent,” and this is, indeed, the first real crescent moon.
• Other meanings relate to spirits and ghosts. The Hawaiians believed the spirit of this moon—the first moon bright enough to cast a shadow—would frighten fish away. Thus, this was not a good night for fishing.

KŪ KAHI

KŪ LUA

KŪ KOLU

KŪ PAU
   
  • The third through sixth moon phases correspond with the first four nights of .
• The end of the first moon, Kū Kahi ends the kapu (forbidden) period of Kū.
• This series of four days also indicates good fishing.

OLE KŪ KAHI

OLE KŪ LUA

OLE KŪ KOLU

OLE KŪ PAU
   
• The seventh through tenth moon phase names all start with ‘Ole, which translates into “nothing” or “unproductive.”
• These days were named because fishing is poor due to high tides and rough conditions.

HUNA
Huna means “small” or “hidden”
• This is a good time for fishing, as the fish tend to hide in their holes.
• Not a good time to seek esoteric knowledge, as answers sought will remain huna or hidden.

MOHALU
• The twelve phase marks a sacred night to the god Kāne.
This night is also good for fishing.
• The tides are very low in the early morning hours.

HUA
Hua means “egg,” “fruit,” and “seed,” and among other things, refers to the near-full egg shape of the moon.
• This night is good for fishing, especially at sea.
Opelu run during Kaelo (January through early February).
Reef fishing is good in the evening with indefinite tides.
• The Hawaiians believed in four full moons. Hua marked the first of the four full moons.

AKUA
Akua means “God/goddess” or “spirit.”
• This is the second full Hawaiian moon and is near the full round shape.
• This is a good night for fishing, especially at sea and on reefs in the evening.
• Indefinite tide with high waves.

HOKU
• The third day of the four Hawaiian full moons was believed to be the fullest moon.
Fishing is good at sea, not onshore.
• Watch for high waves.

MAHEALANI
• This sixteenth lunar phase was the last night of the four Hawaiian full moons and was good for all types of work, planting, and fishing.
Excellent fishing. Tides are low in the late morning and late evening, making shoreline fishing easy.

KULU
Kulu means “to drip, drop,” or “to pass time.”
Deep sea fishing is considered good during this time.
• The currents run strong.

AU KŪ KAHI

AU KŪ LUA

AU PAU
• The Hawaiian word au means just about any type of vegetation, trees, etc.
Fishing is fair and the sea starts to become rough again.
• This late rising moon can be seen in the morning hours.

OLE KŪ KAHI

OLE KŪ LUA

OLE PAU
• Again we enter a series of three unproductive Ole nights.
Avoid planting and fishing; repair gear and equipment.
• Watch for Box Jellyfish and Portuguese Man-of-War onOle Pau.

KALOA KŪ KAHI

KALOA KŪ LUA

KALOA PAU
• The twenty-fourth through twenty-sixth lunar phases mark the three nights of Kāloa.
Good fishing onshore, especially for shellfish.
• Watch for Box Jellyfish and Portuguese Man-of-War during these phases.

KANE
• The twenty-seventh lunar moon marks a two-day period of worship to the gods gods Kāne and Lono.
• This was a very strictly enforced kapu and most of this period was devoted to prayer to the gods.
Good reef fishing with pole and torch.
• Very low tides.

LONO
• The twenty-eighth lunar moon continues from the previous night of worship to Kāne and Lono, with emphasis switching to the god Lono and prayers for rain.
Excellent pole fishing, torch fishing, and diving.
• Low tides and calm seas.

MAULI
• This moon usually rises with daylight.
• All types of fishing were good on this day due to lower tides.
• Marriages were often performed on this day.

MUKU
• This final lunar phase ends the moon rising completely in the earth’s shadow.
Excellent for all kinds of fishing, including diving for squid and octopus.
• The tides are low, which makes trapping fish in tide pools and
loko ia (fishponds) easy.

Source: Kalei Nu‘uhiwa