Midnight ʻŪniki

The day before our midnight ʻŪniki, it was such a beautiful full moon night!
For our tradition, it is preferred to do the ʻŪniki at the full moon day or night, but due to the Ulupō heiau schedule, we couldn’t do that the night. So We all went out of Kumu’s house and danced under the full moon. It was such a beautiful moment, and we sat down there for a while after.
Truly appreciated that all of us were there and share the every single moments there especially we went through looong COVID-19 time. Our training was long than we thought, but the time was necessary for me. I could consider about why I am taking this ʻŪniki.

At the day of ʻŪniki after our Mauna ʻala visit, I prepared soups for everyone and we all were in Kapu of silence. “Kapu of silence” means we minimis to talk and when we talk, we whisper each other. It started about 6 hours before the ʻŪniki. Each of us spend the time to review Hula or Oli, iron our Yellow Pāʻū and Hoʻike costumes, too. When we are hungry, we could snack the soup and bread.
Around 10:30pm, we left Kumu’s house in yellow top, each had necessary instruments, nā lei, nā kūpeʻe, and ka pāʻū.
Place instruments to the stage space. and gathered under the Hala tree of Ulupō heiau.
Had ʻAwa ceremony first there, and moved to the stage place.
Then our ʻŪniki protocol started.
I can’t write the detail of it…. only the people who inherit our tradition will know the detail.
Below is our ʻŪniki picture that I can share.