Ka Makawalu a Koaia

Kii: Kamapuaa : ancient kii at Bailey House Museum, Maui

Nā Puke Wehewehe ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi gives the definition of makawalu:

1. vs. Numerous, many, much, in great quantities (sometimes used with implication of chiefly mana). Lit., eight eyes. Cf. -walu. Nā wailele e iho makawalu mai ana, waterfalls pouring down in quantity. Ka iho makawalu a ka ua, the great downpour of rain. Makawalu nā moku, many islands are scattered haphazardly.

2. n. Type of fighting on plains covered with brush, with irregularly grouped warriors. (Malo 196, 203.)

For the chief Koai‘a, who served as Kekuhaupi‘o’s ‘ōlohe (master instructor), the true test of makawalu lay in patience. He famously instructed Kekuhaupi‘o not to rush into battle like a frantic niuhi (great shark), but rather to remain still and observe his adversary with great detail.

The Essence of Makawalu Makawalu is a sophisticated strategy for navigating uneven terrain and a heightened state of sensory awareness. It requires a warrior to observe their entire immediate environment while simultaneously engaging an opponent. In this state, time appears to slow down, allowing the fighter to anticipate an adversary's movements by reading subtle cues: a shift in weight, a slight tensing of the shoulders, or a change in balance. It encompasses seein all things at the same moment.

Fluidity and Breath The art of makawalu relies on a "stable loop"—a continuous, relaxed current of breath. This breathing prevents tension from locking the limbs, making the body soft yet resilient, like a cord ready to entwine an enemy. By maintaining this fluidity, the warrior identifies the īpuka (the gateway or path) into the opponent’s space.

The Final Strike Because the breath is the source of the stroke, the warrior can react with ease, either delivering a strike of devastating force or suddenly adjusting to control the impact. In his final test, Kekuhaupi‘o embodied these teachings; he utilized makawalu to overcome his master, adjusting the kā (thrust) of his pīkoi (tripping weapon) to enter the exact īpuka he discovered in his instructor’s stance.