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Watch: VSP Asian Pacific‑Islanders celebrate Makahiki

The Asian Pacific-Islanders community at Valley State Prison (VSP) celebrated the ancient Hawaiian ceremony known as Makahiki. The Nov. 17 celebration honors the god Lono of the Hawaiian people’s religion.

Asian Pacific-Islanders at Valley State Prison celebrate Makahiki in November 2025 at the Chowchilla, California, institution.

Traditionally, the Hawaiian people stopped work, made offerings to the chief, and spent time practicing sports, feasting, dancing, and celebrating. Villages were also forbidden from making war during the time of the celebration.

Watch this short clip of the celebration (there is only chanting, so it’s not captioned):

Submitted by Lt. A. Salas

>> See how CSP-Solano celebrated the event last year. Also, learn about CTF-Soledad’s cultural diversity fair held earlier this year.


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