'Ulu maika

Summary: 
‘Ulu maika or bowling stone is a game piece used primarily during the makahiki season for the competitive sport, maika.
Description: 

Maika Stone. Dimensions: 2 7/8 x 1 5/16 inch, Circumference: 9 3/8 inches, Weight: 5.6 oz, Color: Dirty White, Material: appears to be smoothed coral. Contains one large hole and several small ones.

‘Ulu maika can be made of basalt, coral, limestone and wood.  It varies in size and weight.

Cultural Narrative: 

‘Ulu maika is a game of distance and accuracy.  This individual sport would be played on a kahua (prepared site/course).  There are 2 known ways of playing ‘ulu maika.  The first way is to roll the stone between 2 sticks inserted into the ground several inches apart.  The opponents would stand at a distance of 30-40 yards on both sides of the sticks.  The second way to play this game is to see who can bowl their maika the furthest (Hiroa, 1957).

‘Ulu maika is a skilled sport.  Oral traditions also recite that ‘ulu maika was used to settle disputes and challenges.

Location Description: 

Hawaii