'Ulu maika

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

Ulu maika stone. Weight: 9.4 oz., Height: 1 1/2 inches, Diameter: 2 1/2 inches, Circumference: 8 inches. This rock is has several indentations and a dark spot around the side. There is also a square spot on top.

‘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.  Other oral traditions recite that ‘ulu maika was used to settle disputes and challenges. 

Location Description: 

Hawaii