Strongman Martins Licis‘ YouTube series “Strength Unknown” covers his worldwide journey into ancient strength cultures. While Licis continued his journey across East Asia, his friend and videographer Romark Weiss traveled to the beaches of Hawaii to investigate the origins of stone lifting and explore the traditions of a native Hawaiian warrior festival. Check it out below:
[Related: Watch 2023 World’s Strongest Man Mitchell Hooper Try Olympic Weightlifting]
Makahiki Season & Te Moana Nui Games
Weiss traveled to Hawaii during the Makahiki season, a four-month period beginning in early November, during which the harvest is gathered. During this time, the community experiences peace and revelry, capped by the Te Moana Nui Games.
The Te Moana Nui Games feature athletes from all over the Pacific region competing in friendly competition. Hawaii native Joey Cadiz accompanied Weiss, explaining the importance of this season. The Te Moana Nui Games are shared by the Polynesian community, strengthening their bonds through the heat of competition.
The Te Moana Nui Games is an all-inclusive Oceanic event, combining the Hawaiian season of Makahiki and the festivities of Tu’aro Ma’ohi to create a competitive atmosphere imbibed with the “Aloha Spirit.” The Games in Hawaii function as preliminaries to the final games held later in Tahiti.
Polynesian Stone Lifting
Cadiz shared that the stone lifting event features three weight classes for male athletes:
- Under 165 pounds — lightweight
- 165 to 210 pounds — middleweight
- Heavier than 210 pounds — heavyweight
The competition is for time, meaning the stone lifters attempt to lift the stone from the ground to their shoulder with one hand with control as fast as possible. The middleweight stone weighs approximately 245 pounds; the heavyweight stone weighs about 265 pounds.
Through a light drizzle, ceremonial chanting, and natural offerings, the event began with a collection of stone lifting, wrestling, and climbing.
Event One — Tree Climb
The first event — tree climbing — challenged contestants to climb 100 feet on giant palm trees for time. Cadiz competed once and made it to the top of his tree but the palm bark tore his chest during his descent. Participants’ entire bodies must clear the 100-foot marker for their time to count.
Event Two — Fruit Log Race
The second event is a one-kilometer race where female athletes carry 15 kilograms of fruit on a log; male athletes carry 30 kilograms. The course is an incline path and must be traversed without footwear.
Event Three — Stone Lifting
Although Licis didn’t witness the stone lifting in person, he remarked on the impressive pace the lifters maintained:
Even with my stone-lifting prowess, I’d be pressed to manage these remarkable [speeds] seen here.”
Weiss attempted a stone lift but was concerned that his training as an explosive deadlifter would not translate to a stone-to-shoulder lift. He successfully shouldered the stone but failed to control it at lockout.
The Games end with Tahitian wrestling, a cousin of Japanese sumo wrestling, where athletes attempt to push each other out of a plant circle or tackle them to the ground. The contest is best out of five rounds.
Weiss competed and was defeated by a Polynesian wrestler but was granted the grace of culture, community, and compassion as a participant.
Featured image: @romarkweiss on Instagram
