Makahiki · Hilo Hunter · Makaliʻi
Makahiki & Hilo Hunter
The Hawaiian lunar calendar anchored to Makaliʻi rising at sunset — the first crescent of each month and the opening of the new year season.
Lono i ka makahiki!
Each year around November 17th, the Makaliʻi (Pleiades) rise above the eastern horizon at the exact moment the sun sets. This is the acronychal rising — the astronomical signal that opens Makahiki, the Hawaiian season of Lono, peace, and harvest. The table shows the three-day window around each event with altitudes at sunset, +30 min, and +60 min after sunset (civil twilight is typically ≈30 min after).
Methodology: Makaliʻi (Pleiades) coordinates: RA 56.85° / Dec +24.12° (J2000, Alcyone). Altitude at geometric sunset (−0.833° refraction). Location: Hilo, Big Island (19.90°N, 155.58°W) by default — or your device location if you tap the green location button. All times HST. The slow drift in altitude across years (~0.2°/yr) reflects precession of the equinoxes.