E Ala Hawai'i
This mele came after being in the studio for over two years. I had composed Nā Po’o Ana o ka Lā, the setting of the sun as a favor to my students but did not receive inspiration to write this mele until recently. Growing up in Kula, Maui, we always had the privilege to greet the rising of the sun on the top of Haleakalā. Now we can chant praises to the sun from any station in life.
E ala Hawaiʻi ke ala nei ka Lā E ala Hawaiʻi ua ala ʻia ka Lā E ala Hawaiʻi mai Haleakalā E ala Hawaiʻi nā hōkū, mahina, ka lā Hui: E ala Hawaiʻi hoʻokahi Akua Mau Loa Hui: E ala Hawaiʻi e ulu o ka lā ʻUwā ka leo Ua ala ka lā |
Awake Hawai’i, the sun rises Shouting voices Awake Hawai’i one Supreme God
Awake Hawai’i the rising of the sun Shouting voices The sun awoke! |
Ho'opuka E Ka La Ma Ka Hikina
The hula kaʻi (dancing on to the stage) sets a mood of expectation in viewing the company of dancers. In traditional hula, it is standard procedure to kaʻi the dancers on the stage before a performance. The dancers are compared to the ʻIwa bird that glides in the Pacific sky.
Ho'opuka e ka lā ma ka hikina Ha'a mai nā 'Iwa me Hi'iaka Ne'e mai nā 'Iwa ma ku'u alo Ho'i e ke kapu me nā ali'i
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The sun rises in the east The frigate bird dances with Hiʻiaka The man-of-war (ʻiwa) approaches before me May the kapu return with the royal chiefs |
Pa Mai Ka Makani 'Uahi Pele
When I studied ancient hula, I was always taught that you should dance on and dance off the stage. Watching the hālau dancers hoʻi or dance of stage presented an impression like the mother birds always returning to their (pūnana-their nest) to feed and teach their young.
Kāhea: ʻAe, Ka Makani Uahi Pele Pā mai pā mai ka makani uahi Pele Aia la aia la he Moaʻe ko Lehua Pau pono pau pono ka hana ana o pua 'Āpono 'Āpono ka Wahine O Ka Lua
He inoa nō Pele |
Call: Hear the wind of Pele Blow the winds of Pele Praises to the woman of the pit |
Hele Aku Au Me Hi'iaka
In this chant, Pele and Hiʻiaka travel on the eight seas (kai ʻewalu) with the paddlers of the god, Kamohoaliʻi who is their eldest brother. The famous contemporary double-hulled canoe, Moʻi O Ke Kai prepares with these gods for the long trip to Tahiti.
Hele aku au me Hi'iaka Hoe ka Mo'i O ke Kai Holo aku mākou i ka moana Ho'okele i nā kai 'ewalu Ke kokomo mai la ka wa'a Hoe ka wa'a kaulua Li'u ka 'ike i ka holo wa'a Hoe ke kuamo'o 'ōlelo i na po'e E ō e ka huaka'i a Pele Hoe ka Mo'i O ke Kai
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I (Pele) travel with Hiʻiaka Paddle the “King of the Sea”! We go out to the ocean Paddling through the eight seas The canoe is plunging through the waves Paddle the double-hulled canoe Skilled she is in sailing the canoe Paddling the history to the people Respond to the travels of Pele Paddle the “King of the Sea”! |
Na Home O Pele
After traveling throughout her islands, Pele chose the island of Hawaiʻi as her home. Her favorite districts, Kīlauea, Halemaʻumaʻu, Puna, Kaʻū are chanted in the verses. The winds, the rains and the lehua answer her call.
E Pele e Pele e, i Kīlauea e E Pele e Pele e, i Puna me Kaʻū Hui: E Pele e Pele e, i Halemaʻumaʻu e Hui:
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Pele at Kīlauea
The lehua blossom Pele at Puna and Kaʻū
Pele at Halemaʻumaʻu |
Aiha'a
I thank the author of this chant since it has brought great joy in chanting it and teaching it to others. The tale connects Tutu Peleʻs creation story of the major islands of Hawaiʻi with Wākea who was called Sky Father. The literature and story-line with choice of words provide a great listening experience with the accompaniment of several ancient instruments such as the kāʻekeʻeke and ʻoiʻoi to enhance the literature.
He lua i ka Hikina ua ʻena e Pele Ke hā'olo'olo 'ē lā ke ao Ke lele la i luna, i lalo; Kawewe ka 'ō'ō i lalo i akea; A nīnau o Wākea, 'O wai nei akua e ʻeli nei? 'O wau nō, ʻo Pele, Nāna i ʻeli aku ka lua i Ni'ihau ʻaʻā. He lua i Ni'ihau, ua ʻena e Pele He lua i Kaua'i ua ʻena e Pele He lua i O'ahu ua ʻena e Pele He lua i Moloka'i ua ʻena e Pele
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A pit lies far to the East pit red-hot by the goddess Ni'ihau Dug fire-pit red-heated by Pele Kaua'i dug fire-pit red-heated by Pele O'ahu dug fire-pit red-hot by Pele Moloka'i dug fire-pit red-hot by Pele |
Po'oti'eti'e
The intent of this song was to honor some of the great gods of the world which Hawaiians recognized and worshipped such as Kāne, Kū, Lono, Kanaloa, and Iesu. They all served their purpose in each Hawaiian heart.
O Tane te poʻotiʻetiʻe O Tane te poʻotiʻetiʻe ʻElima nā poʻotiʻetiʻe O Tū te poʻotiʻetiʻe O Tū te poʻotiʻetiʻe ʻElima nā poʻotiʻetiʻe O Lono te poʻotiʻetiʻe O Lono te poʻotiʻetiʻe ʻElima nā poʻotiʻetiʻe O Tanaloa te poʻotiʻetiʻe O Tanaloa te poʻotiʻetiʻe |
The great god, Tane The great god, Tane Five great gods The great god, Tu The great god, Tu Five great gods The great god, Lono The great god, Lono Five great gods The great god, Tanaloa The great god, Tanaloa |
ʻElima nā poʻotiʻetiʻe O Iesu te poʻotiʻetiʻe O Iesu te poʻotiʻetiʻe ʻElima nā poʻotiʻetiʻe |
Five great gods The great god, Jesus The great god, Jesus Five great gods |
Maui Ke Kupua
Maui in ancient times was a super-demigod throughout the Pacific Islands and received much praise for all his feats. When speaking of Maui the demigod, he and his brothers were identified as Maui-mua, the eldest; Maui-waena, the second; Maui-iki-iki, the smallest and Maui-akamai. the smartest. Maui-akamai was given credit for all of the great deeds.
Hui – 'O wai 'oe ? Maui ke kupua Eia au o Mua ka hiapo Maui ke kupua Maui ke kupua Maui ke kupua Oia ka hana 'āpiki kekahi o Maui O ka ua mua ia, paio haka, hina ua kia'i
Maui ke kupua Maui ke kupua |
Hey, who are you? I am Mua the eldest Maui the demi-god Maui the demi-god Maui the demi-god Here are the rascal activities of Maui First, quarrel, fall, guard
Maui the demi-god Maui the demi-god I am the father |
Maui ke kupua Makua kane Akalana Oia ka hana 'ā-piki kekahi o Maui O ka ua alima, o ka paehumu O ka ua hope, kilika ke kaua a Maui i ka Lā O kaua i ka ho'ūpā'ūpā Hā'ule i Hakipu'u i Kualoa he moku – no
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Maui the demi-god I am the father Here are the rascal activities of Maui taboo enclosure at chief house or heiau high place the last wrestling w/the sun rubbing up & down passed at Hakipu'u, Kualoa An island |
Lehua'ula
The scarlet red Lehua has always been one of my favorite Hawaiian plants especially at Panaewa, Hawaiʻi. One of the first trees to grow after a lava flow, it protrudes out from either the ʻaʻa or pāhoehoe type of volcanic flow and used to attract the native ʻōʻō bird
Ka wai Lehua mukiki 'ono Ohi'a uliuli ka ua la e E nihi ka hele na i Panaʻewa E ka pae moku Lehua la e Kui nā ohi'a hele i ke kaha e E ō e ka Lehua'ula o Panaewa He inoa nō Hiʻiaka i ka Poli o Pele
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The delicious honeydew Ohiʻa fruits ripen in the rain Be careful as you approach Panaʻewa Care for my flowers Wreaths of ohiʻa are provided for glad travels Greetings to the scarlet lehua of Panaewa In the name of Hiʻiaka i ka Poli o Pele |
Kihawahine
Kihawahine refers to the supernatural female lizard that usually was found in the ancient Hawaiian fishponds. She also served King Kamehemeha as one of his demi-gods. People who lived in ancient times describe Kihawahine to be anywhere from 6 to 8 feet long. In Lahaina, she is described as one with a tinge of red color upon her head—referring to the Luaʻehu clan of that ahupuaʻa.
He aloha wale no Kihawahine No Maui ke ali'i wahine nani Ua Hoakua o Kihawahine He mo'oakua wahine kaulana, Ho'i e ke kapu me Kihawahine, He inoa no Kihawahine
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Greetings to Kihawahine Beautiful is this Maui chiefess A god-like female lizard Kihawahine was transformed May the kapu return to Kihawahine In the name of Kihawahine |
Oli Lei O Lohi'au
The Wahine Kapu in her dreams travels all the way to Kaua’i in search of her lover. She is attracted to a hula recital by the sounds of the kå’eke’eke. There, she immediately falls in love with the handsome Lohi’au who in turn expresses his aloha to her.
Kaha e ka lā ma ke kua ʻo Lehua Kahakū Hanalei i ka ua nui Ka wahine la koʻu akua Nou paha e ka inoa la ea Haʻina ʻia mai ana ka puana |
The sun passes through the back of Lehua (island) with the enchanting voice of Lohiʻau. The shivering rains of Hanalei comes The woman is my god This is perhaps your name Told is this story |
He Pua Ali'i
This mele hula is a brief story of the life of one of the great chiefs named Moʻikeha that sailed back to Hawaiʻi from Tahiti in the early years of the Polynesian Migration with his family. He left from Kapaʻahu, Moaʻulanui- ākea Kanaloa and landed at South Point with a family named Kalae, sailed to Hilo then to Kawaihae with kahuna Moʻokini. Crossing the ʻAlenuihāhā Channel, he briefly stopped at Hana, Maui then continued around to Honuaʻula, Lahaina, and island hopped to Molokaʻi, Oʻahu, and Kauaʻi where he finally settled.
He pua ali'i mai Kapa'ahu lae mai Moa'ulanuiʻākea Kanaloa la, ea la, ea la ea, Holo 'o Mo'ikeha i kona wa'a lae Pae aʻe lākou i Hawaiʻi lae Ha'alele 'o Mo'ikeha mā i Maui lae A kani mo'opuna nui i Kaua'i lae |
A great chief from Kapaʻahu. Chief Moʻikeha sailed on his canoe After arriving in Hawaiʻi, the Kalae and Moaʻula family resided there
The Chief then sailed to Maui Great were his grandchildren on Kauaʻi |
Huaka'i Kaua A Pai'ea
This mele is a description of Kamehamehaʻs war forces moving in a formation that was applied upon the battlegrounds that were flat and wide open. Like the area between Maʻalaea to Wailuku and from Wailuku to Pāʻia. In the mele, it describes the soldiers in formation with the long spears in the back guarding the chief and the short spears with war clubs leading the rest of the infantry.
Hele mua na koa kakaʻikahi Mahope main a koa kiaʻi Ukali mai ke koena me ke alakaʻi Hiki mai ke aliʻi me na pololū Wānana ke kila aʻe lanakila ana |
The skirmishes went first The rear guard followed Then came the light armed soldiers Near the sacred chief The astrologer predicts a day in which your enemy will be delivered into your hands in the name of Paiʻea |
Ka Home Aloha O Ka'ahumanu
This oli speaks of the beauty and splendor of Hana and honors it’s beloved Queen Ka’ahumanu who was one of Kamehameha I favorite wives.
Ho’okahi Ka’uiki nani la-e Ha’ulena ʻo Kauakea la-e Aia pu’u Iwi-o-Pele la-e Ha’ina ‘ia mai ana ka puana la-e |
Ka’uiki is the only beautiful thing The Kauakea falls from the heavens, There is the hill Iwi-o-Pele Thus ends this song |
Eia No Makou
by Keliʻi Tauʻā
It was an honor to compose this oli kahea for Kyoko Kubokawa and her hālau Ka Hula Hawaiʻi whose works stretches throughout the ʻāina of Nīpoa. The content of this oli expresses her impressive dedication to Hawaiian chant and dance taking her manu ʻiwaʻiwa(dancers) to many exquisite hula and chant performances.
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English |
Na Peleleu
Nā Peleleu is the story of King Kamehameha The Greatʻs war canoes that traveled across Alenuihāhā Channel to invade the Maui forces. It was said that there were so many single-hull and double-hull canoes that upon landing they stretched out from Mākena to Oluwalu.
Kūlulu mai ke aliʻi Hoʻoūka mai ka lani Kaulana ke aupuni E ō e ka mea nui He inoa no nā peleleu ʻo ka lani |
The chief built The chief invaded Famous was the chief Hail to the great chief In the name of the war canoes of the chief |
E Ku
E Kū formulated through several performances before it took final shape and anchored itself with the paddlers on the paddling voyage to Kure. The passion of these voyagers to travel from Hawaiʻi Island with brief stops throughout their voyage to re-group and re-supply make their paddling a one of a kind experience.
E kū (E kū) E kū (E kū) E kū (E kū) E kū (E kū) E kū (E kū) A kau (a kau) A kau i kanikoʻo pala lau hala Kū E ō Nā Hoe Waʻa Nā Mokupuni o Nā Kupuna
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Stand! Stand! Stand! Stand! Stand! Freedom! Live to a remote old age Start! Hail to the Paddlers of the Islands of the Ancestors! |
Oli Mahalo
This is a simple group chant praising God, ancestral Gods, grandparents, parents, teachers, and leaders of a growing student or child. The chant is used after students/children receive instruction or at any time one feels prompted to express gratitude. Three claps to the thighs precede each line and as you say the “Mahalo” raise hands above head.
Mahalo Akua Mahalo nā ʻAumakua Mahalo nā Kupuna Mahalo nā Makua Mahalo nā Kumu Mahalo nā Alakaʻi Mahalo Iaʻu Aloha Paʻi Paʻi (4x) Hele aku |
Thank you God Thank you family gods Thank you elders Thank you parents Thank you teachers Thank you leaders Thank you self
Clap hands 3 times… repeat 4x Let’s go! |
Napo'o Ana O Ka La
It is exciting to chant praises to a natural, warm energy source that awakens each morning on the top of Haleakalā and moves across the clouds touching ʻĪao in central Maui and eventually setting on the opposite side of Maui viewed by residents of South and West Maui. This simple mele requested provides us with paying homage to the sun and leaving with a warm aloha “A hui hou ʻāpopo”—which means, “see you tomorrow”.
Aloha ka napo'o ana o ka lā 'Ula'ula melemele 'ōma'oma'o Ala i ka lā i Haleakalā E walea ana napo'o o ka lā
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I love the sunset Adorned in red, yellow & green The warmth of the sun rises at Haleakalā Enjoy the warmth of the setting sun into Pō |