The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-02-14
SUIT AGAINST COFERREVIVE OLD CUSTOM SOL
HAWAIIAN Disc HURLING sUG-
GEsTED FOR FIELD DAY.
Description of the Ancient Game Shows
It's Relationship to the Greek Disco
bolus Contests

The suggestion has been made that
iu the sports TO come on at the big
field day to be held for the benefit Of
the Boys Brigade I'm addition TO the
regular events the old sport OF rolling
the ulu maika, once so prevalent among
the Hawaiians be revived.
The ulu maika We're polishd discs Of
stone some six inches In diameter, and
perhaps an inch and half i'm thickness
slightly CoveX on the sides. The sport
was very similar TO that of the ancient
Hellenic custom of throwing the discs
and some DhilOlOgists have added this
custom with the shape of the Hawaiian
helmets, wreath giving, and other ma
tional traits to- the evidences from
which they endeavOr to trace the Ha-
waiian and allied races to a primary
Greek and Persian origin.
The ulu maika We're always brought
out at any gathering where feats Of
skill and strength were to be exhibited
among the Hawaiians. Local cham
pions from far and near would gather
/ to show their skill and many were the
wagers on the outcome. The polished
stones were hurled with all the force
and skill of the thrOwer who assumed in
| mis- cast a pose that must have been all
most Identical with that or the we'll
| known statue of the "DisCObOlus throw
err"
D
! the smooth track passing all competi-
| tors or lingering behind the foremost.
Standing with tense muscles, the
| thrOWer remained immovable while the
| excited multitude lined up along the
specially prepared track would endeavor
! to keep apace with the swiftly rushing
disc shouting aloud as il passed other
| stones now lying still at their jour
neys end, or perhaps through some un-
| skillful twist at the moment of delivery,
| turning aside from the path at the mo-
lment of triumph, and spreading mo-
| mentary CONSERVATION for their shtns
among the crowd who laughed at the
discounted athlete.
| The strength used i'm throwing the
discs may be imagined by the length of
the track which was prepared. Cover
| n r Dole this morning in approving the
! suggestion, stated that he had seen
tracks prepared for the game Of twelve
/ hundred yards length. 81 believe
said he, that the length of the throw
was not the only test. If l remember
rightly sticks were set up 1T the end O
the track between which the disc haC
to pass to achieve the victory"
Other witnesses Of this sport cOrrobo
rate the length of the casts, adding tina
one disc would sometimes be so skim
fully hurled as to throw out of the patti
a connection that lay in the center O
the track, and still come between the
sticks At luaus and native festivals
the sport seems to have been practiseC
in a modified form by the younger meI
and maidens
The connection between disc throw
ing, quOits, the Scotch curling game anC
even the shove halfpenny Of Englisl
inns, shuttle board and similar games
allies the disc throwing sport in NOR
or less modified and distorted form
with all nationalities and ages
The Hawaiian sport was magnifcen
exercise and seems TO have died ou
with the present generation The mod
ern Hawaiian youth would prove a poo
hand at spear throwing or hurting tn
. disCObOlus even six hundred yards with
out a great deal of practice, but a grea
. many have urged the taking up of tn
latter sport and suggest the field day a
an opportunity for its revival
A level track could be easily prepare
! and for the tyros that would probabI
! compete, the course need not be nearl
! the length mentioned by the authorities
- Perhaps too some older native not ye
b. cramped with age, would show tn
, young idea how to roll. The ulu maika
( could no ddhbt be secured from prlvat
p collections where they are now ben
, | treasurer as CuTiOs along with ston
= poi Founders and genuine calabashes.
e The discs were made from hard rocl
4 ! black in color and close grained The
p took a high polish and are beautiful
a | smooth and symmetrical although til
4 polishing and reduction must have bee
4. largely done by hand. a sea washe
stone possibly acting as the basil
Stones similar to the maika, without IL
u extreme ConveXity and yet more high
polished, were the old time mirrors
, the Hawaiians.