October – ʻIkuwā/Māhoe Hope

SOURCE: WESTERN PACIFIC REGIONAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

October sees the appearance of the Makali’i (Pleiades) constellation in the east/northeast sky at dusk. For certain islands, the first sight of Makali’i marks the beginning of Makahiki (New Year) festival, which lasts around 4 months. This month is also a good time to catch moi (Pacific Threadfin) and ʻōpelu (Mackerel Scad), which are plentiful and swim in schools near the surface of coastal waters. Kalo (taro), a staple Hawaiian food, is often used to lure ʻōpelu into a funnel shaped net, like the one in the diagram below.

‘Ōpelu ha ʻalili i ke kai
ʻŌpelu that make the sea ripple

Net and technique used for fishing for ‘opelu. Drawing by Eric Enos, from the ‘Opelu Project, pacific worlds.com

Pleiades, also called the Seven Sisters. Source: WikiHow