Makana
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Makana is a Hawaiian term meaning "gift from heaven" or reward. It is often used as a person's name or as part of a name.
Makana Mountain is located on the northernmost island in the Hawaiian archipelago, Kauai. According to the National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) web site [1], it towers above Limahuli valley. It is often referred to as Bali Hai, a name popularized by the movie South Pacific. However, the ancient Hawaiians named it Makana. The name indicates of the importance of Makana mountain in ancient Hawaii.
The NTBG site explains that Makana mountain is one of only two locations where the famous fire-throwing ceremony, 'oahi, was performed in ancient times. The 'oahi was a celebration of very special occasions such as the graduation of students from the famous hula school at Ke'e or the visit of a high chief. On the day of the ceremony, skilled firethrowers climbed the steep cliffs to the very top of Makana mountain laden with light, dry logs of papala or hau. When night fell, they set the logs afire and hurled them out over the ocean. Updrafts created by the tradewinds hitting the sheer cliff of Makana kept the firebrands aloft, soaring as far as a mile out to sea. The results was a night sky filled with sparks and fiery torches tracing arcs of light from Makana to the sea.
