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MELE & Mo‘olelo


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Pulapula - seedlings, sprouts, descendants, offspring
Hoʻopulapula - to rehabilitate, propagate, multiply, procreate


“After extensive investigation and survey on the part of various organizations organized to rehabilitate the Hawaiian race, it was found that the only method in which to rehabilitate the race was to place them back upon the soil.”

- Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole to U.S. Senators prior to the passage of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.

For Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole, the rehabilitation of his Lāhui started from the ground. Acknowledging the fundamental relationship between kānaka and environment, Kalanianaʻole expressed a deep understanding of ʻāina – not only as land, but as an irreplaceable ingredient of life itself. Just like the pulapula of new crops that sustained generations since time immemorial, Kalanianaʻole knew that by “replanting” the pulapula of his time – his fellow kānaka – in fertile ʻāina, generations of his beloved people would endure.

Kalanianaʻole maintained his royal presence – from being adopted by Queen Kapiʻolani and King Kalākaua, to his engagement in the Wilcox Rebellion, two years after his aunt, Queen Liliʻuokalani, was illegally deposed by American businessmen and the United States government. Among his many achievements as an aliʻi and statesman, he would ultimately spearhead the passage of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act in 1921, causing the United States to set aside approximately 200,000 acres of land to establish a permanent homeland for native Hawaiians. For these and many other acts of service to his people, he is known as Ke Aliʻi Makaʻāinana, the Citizen Prince.

In appreciation for Ke Aliʻi Makaʻāinana, mele practitioners continue to compose, perform,  memorialize, and celebrate Kalanianaʻole and the gift of ʻāina hoʻopulapula. As the term suggests, ʻāina has ensured that pulapula are abundant. These mele celebrate this 100-year legacy, creating more fertile ground for generations to come.

He Koʻihonua no Ke Aliʻi Kalanianaʻole

Hoʻonohonoho ʻia e Manu Boyd
Oli ʻia e Kahikinaokalā Domingo, Kaiao Domingo,
Kauhaʻanui Domingo, & Keaolamalamaokahikilani 
Kuʻikahi Domingo
​

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E hoʻolono mai i ke koʻihonua
o ke Aliʻi Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole
He mamo aliʻi o Kauaʻi o Mano, Oʻahu o Kākuhihewa, Maui a Kama me Hawaiʻi o Keawe

ʻO Kamakahelei ka wahine, ʻo Kaʻeokūlani ke kāne
Noho pū lāua a hānau mai ʻo Kaumualiʻi

ʻO Kamakahelei ka wahine, ʻo Kaneoneo ke kāne
Noho pū lāua a hānau mai ʻo Kapuaamohu

ʻO Kapuaamohu ka wahine, ʻo Kaumualiʻi ke kāne
Noho pū lāua a hānau mai ʻo Kinoiki Kekaulike

ʻO Kinoiki Kekaulike ka wahine, ʻo Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole ke kāne
Noho pū lāua a hānau mai ʻo Kinoiki Kekaulike ʻelua

ʻO Kinoiki Kekaulike ʻelua ka wahine, ʻo David Kahalepouli Piʻikoi ke kāne
Noho pū lāua a hānau mai Ke Aliʻi Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole

E ō e Ke Aliʻi Kalanianaʻole, he inoa ʻala hoʻi ē!

Listen to the genealogical chant
of Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole
A royal descendant of Kauaʻi o Mano, Oʻahu o Kākuhihewa, Maui a Kama me Hawaiʻi o Keawe

Kamakahelei is the woman, Kaʻeokūlani is the man
They dwelt together and Kaumualiʻi is born

Kamakahelei is the woman, Kaneoneo is the man
They dwelt together and Kapuaamohu is born

Kapuaamohu is the woman, Kaumualiʻi is the man
They dwelt together and Kinoiki Kekaulike is born

Kinoiki Kekaulike is the woman, Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole is the man
They dwelt together and Kinoiki Kekaulike II is born

Kinoiki Kekaulike II is the woman, David Kahalepouli Piʻikoi is the man
They dwelt together and Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole is born

Prince Kalanianaʻole endures, a fragrant name indeed!

​​Prince Jonah Kūhio Kalanianaʻole is born of royal lineage. This particular koʻihonua, or genealogical chant, connects Kalanianaʻole with his well-known ancestors, the aliʻi who dwelt in the time before the unification of the Hawaiian kingdom under Kamehameha I. The Domingo brothers – Kahikinaokalā, Kaiao, Kauhaʻanui, and Keaolamalamaokahikilani Ku’ikahi – honor Kalanianaʻole with the recitation of this koʻihonua.

Aloha Kalanianaʻole

Haku ʻia e Malia Craver lāua ʻo Val Kepilino
Mele ʻia e Jonah Kahanuola Solatorio 
​
​

He manaʻo he aloha
No ka lani aliʻi
Ka ʻelele kaulana
I Wakinekona

Ua ʻimi ʻia e ʻoe
Me ke ahonui
I kahua kūpaʻa
No nā ʻōiwi Hawaiʻi

Nā ʻāina hoʻopulapula
No kona lāhui aloha
Nā ēwe o ka ʻāina
Āu i manaʻo nui ai

ʻAʻole mākou e poina
I kāu hana maikaʻi
E ola kou inoa
Ka ʻelele i Wakinekona

Haʻina mai ka inoa
Ke aliʻi lokomaikaʻi
E mau ka hoʻomanaʻo
O Kalanianaʻole
A loving dedication
To the heavenly royal
The famous delegate
In Washington

You sought
With much patience
A solid foundation
For the natives of Hawaiʻi

The homestead lands
For his beloved people
The lineage of the land
Was your desire

We shall not forget
Your great work
Long live your name
Delegate in Washington

Tell this name
The generous royal
We shall always remember
Kalanianaʻole

Mele Hoʻopulapula visionary, Kumu Jonah Kahanuola Solatorio, honors Kalanianaʻole with the adorations penned by Malia Craver and Val Kepilino. Generations of Solatorio’s ʻohana call Kewalo Uka and Papakōlea their home, their ʻāina hoʻopulapula. For Solatorio, “singing mele for Kalanianaʻole allows us to celebrate Ke Aliʻi Makaʻāinana and his legacy that my family and I continue to enjoy. E mele pū mai!”

Pualeilani

​Traditional
Mele ʻia e Manu Boyd
​

E ō e ka wehi o Pualeilani
Kō milimili hoʻi e hiʻi mai nei

Nāu i lei aʻe i ka lanakila
Ua kuʻikahi like nā puʻuwai

Ua haku ʻia e Manokalani
Kui ʻia mai e Kākuhihewa

Ke ʻuo ʻia nei lā e Maui
Hoʻoheno ʻoe e Keawe o Hawaii

E ō i kō lei o ka wā uʻi
ʻO Kalanianaole nō he inoa

ʻO Kalanianaʻole o Pualeilani

Respond, treasure of Pualeilani
Your beloved to hold and cherish

You have worn the lei of victory
Our hearts are one

Woven by Manokalani
Strung by Kākuhihewa

Bundled beautifully by Maui
Cherished by Keawe of Hawaiʻi

Respond to your lei of your youth
A name song for Kalanianaʻole

Kalanianaʻole of Pualeilani

The elegance of Kalanianaʻole’s seaside home at Waikīkī is captured in this classic mele, taught to Many Boyd by his “calabash aunty,” Anuhea Brown. “Haku,” “kui” and “ʻuo” thoughtfully fashion this beautiful adornment, acknowledging both the Prince’s multi-island royal lineage and his supporters throughout the pae ʻāina, through which he was elected ten times for two-year terms as Hawaiʻi’s Territorial Representative in the United States Congress.

​Nānākuli

Haku ʻia e John Piʻilani Watkins
Mele ʻia e Del Beazley
​

Kaulana mai nei aʻo Nānākuli
Haʻaheo nō ʻoe e Kalanianaʻole

ʻĀina nani ʻoe hoʻopulapula
Hoʻolaha nō ʻoe e ka lāhui

Hoʻokahi mea nani o ka ʻāina
ʻO nā pua laha ʻole o Hawaiʻi nei

Haʻina ʻia mai ana ka puana
Haʻaheo nō ʻoe e Kalanianaʻole
Nānākuli is well-known
You are proud, indeed, Kalanianaʻole

Beautiful homestead land
The nation grows and flourishes

There is one beauty of the land
The unique flowers of Hawaiʻi

The refrain is told
You are proud, indeed, Kalanianaʻole

“People from Nānākuli homestead have always been a proud people, a community of Hawaiians that have always helped each other. We have a bond of being homesteaders where kōkua was a part of the lifestyle. It wasn't asked for, it was just freely given. People knew when to come to the other's aid. People came together when they needed to be together. It was part of your kuleana as a part of that community. They continue to “share-share.” These are the traditions that are passed on. The fishermen give fish, the mahiʻai give food. We continue to do the things that our ancestors did to sustain our life, our culture and our bloodline. 

The homestead and the church community in the homestead played a big part in my musical upbringing. The music from the church or the music from the neighborhood gatherings – not just the lūʻau, but even the Friday pau hana – that camaraderie of sharing mele between the pulapula shaped and honed my musical career.” - Del Beazley

​​Kalamaʻula

​Haku ʻia e Emma Kala Dudoit
Mele ʻia e Raiatea Helm
​

A he sure maoli nō
Me ke onaona ē
Me ka nani o Kalamaʻula

ʻĀina ua kaulana ʻeā
I ka hoʻopulapula ē
Me ka nani o Kalamaʻula

Haʻina mai ka puana ʻeā
E hoʻi mai kāua ē
Me ka nani o Kalamaʻula
It is a sure thing
With alluring scent
With the beauty of Kalamaʻula

A land made famous
By the rehabilitation
With the beauty of Kalamaʻula

Tell this refrain
Let us return there
With the beauty of Kalamaʻula

“The first time I heard the song was when I heard my Uncle Jarrett’s [George Helm’s] recording. I was only in middle school, and I didn’t know who “George Helm” was. My dad was closest to my Uncle Jarrett, and that really allowed me to connect to this song. Many remember him singing this song. When I shared Kalamaʻula again in 2005, on my second album, perhaps it brought back feelings people had for my Uncle. It was even more powerful – because he's not here anymore. That's the cool thing about mele. It's connected with time and space.

These songs of the past really allow us to embrace our ancestors. That's what this song means to me. When I sing it, I can easily picture the red dirt, the resilience of our kūpuna. They honored each other. They didn't bring each other down. It was always about supporting the families. Kalamaʻula is a tool for Hawaiians to return to ancestral knowledge – to return back to the ʻāina. Things of simplicity. Love. Love for each other. Honesty. Openness. The things our kūpuna practiced. That’s what I wish for our Hawaiian people.” - Raiatea Helm

Waikīkī Hula

Traditional
Mele ʻia e Manu Boyd
​

He aloha ʻia nō aʻo Waikīkī, ʻeā
Ka nehe o ke kai hāwanawana

Pā iho ka makani lawe mālie, ʻeā
Ke ʻala onaona o ka līpoa

Kaulana kou inoa i nā malihini, ʻeā
Kaʻapuni kou nani puni ka honua

Huli aku nānā iā Kaimana Hila, ʻeā
ʻIke i ka nani aʻo Honolulu

Haʻina ʻia mai ana ka puana, ʻeā
He aloha ʻia nō aʻo Waikīkī
Beloved is Waikīkī
The rustling of the ocean whispering softly

The breeze blows
Carrying gently the sweet fragrance of līpoa

Your name is famous to all visitors
Your beauty is known throughout the world

Turn and see Diamond Head
And look at the beauty of Honolulu

The refrain is told
Waikīkī is beloved, indeed

Popularized by the legendary musician, Kahauanu Lake, the lyrics to this long-time hula classic were remembered by Helen Ayat, who was intimately familiar with Pualeilani, Kalanianaʻole’s Waikīkī home. The murmur of the whispering surf, fragrant līpoa seaweed, gentle breezes and the world-famous landmark, Kaimana Hila (Lēʻahi/Diamond Head) are woven into a festive Hawaiian musical tribute.

Ka Lei Momi o Hoʻolehua

Haku ʻia ka ʻōlelo e Vanda Wahinekuipua Hanakahi
Haku ʻia ka leo e John Kaʻimikaua
Unuhi ʻia e Vanda Wahinekuipua Hanakahi
Mele ʻia e ʻAwapuhimele Napoleon-O’Brien, Poʻokela Napoleon & Uaia-Keola Napoleon
​

​E nā kūpuna i iwi a lehu lā
E apo ʻolu i ke aloha lā
O nēia lei mamo i hiʻikua ʻia
Mai kīnohi mai i ka wā ʻānō
Pae mai ka momi i ke one o Molokaʻi lā
Mehameha a launea nā kula ē
Haʻa ihola nā kuli i ia mehameha lā
Huli ke alo i ke Akua mana loa
I ka wehe kaiao i kūlou ai ke kua lā
I ka lepo ʻulaʻula o Hoʻolehua

ʻO ka lantana i hāliʻi ai ka ʻāina lā
ʻEha lā ke kūkū i ka ʻili lā
Maloʻo ka ʻāina i ka Umu Kālua Ua lā
Puehu ʻia ka lepo ʻula o ia wahi
Lapalapa nā ʻuhane i ʻō i ʻaneʻi lā
Nā alaina i alualu iā Kākuhihewa
ʻO Waikapū, Waiʻehu, Waiheʻe a Wailuku lā
Nā wai ʻehā o Maui i ʻelo Hoʻolehua
Ma o ka hoʻokēʻai i ke Akua lani lā
I kahe mai ka wai me he lā he kahawai

Hāʻupu aʻela ka mamo i ka lei momi lā
He lei kau a hiʻi ai ka poli
Mahalo i ka huamua a ʻoukou lā
Hōʻike ʻia ka nani o ia ʻāina
Mai ke kai poʻoloʻoloʻu o Moʻomomi lā
A huli i ka ʻāina hoʻopulapula
A hiki i ka wēkiu o Nāʻiwa lā
He waihona i mālama ʻia kou aloha
E nā kūpuna i iwi a lehu lā
E apo ʻolu i ke aloha o ka lei mamo
Dear ancestors who have gone from bones to ashes
Please accept with love
Your descendants that you carried on your back
From the beginning until now
The pearls wash upon the sands of Molokaʻi (Moʻomomi)
Lonely and desolate are the uplands
The knees bend at such loneliness
My gaze turns to God
The sun rises and the back is bent over
Your gaze is upon the red soil of Hoʻolehua

Lantana blankets the land
The thorn is painful to the skin
The land is dry as a result of the Umu Kalua Ua
The red dirt is blown over the land
The spirits are restless upon the land
These were the trials that chased away Kākuhihewa
Kupuna came from Waikapū, Waiʻehu, Waheʻe, and Wailuku (to Hoʻolehua)
The four districts of Maui that brought the drenching rains to Hoʻolehua
Through fasting before God
The waters flow like rivers

The mamo remembers with great love of the kūpuna, the ancestors
We are the lei of our kūpuna
Thank you for your first fruits
The beauty of the land is seen
From the rich waters of Moʻomomi
We turn towards our homestead lands
Up to the heights of Nāʻiwa
It’s a safe that forever holds your love
Dear ancestors who have gone from bones to ashes
Please accept graciously the love and mahalo of your descendants.

“Our family, for generations, has lived in Hoʻolehua. Hoʻolehua and, I believe, Kalamaʻula were part of the pilot program. If our kūpuna weren’t able to make homesteading happen here, it may not have worked across the pae ʻāina, so there was extra pressure to make the ʻāina ready. But how can you farm if your ʻāina is covered in thorns, dry, and ʻuhane are coming to visit you all the time? These are the trials that turned away the first group of people charged with making the ʻāina ready. It was really the ʻohana that came from Nā Wai ʻEhā, through their faith, through their pule, that they were able to walk the water back to Hoʻolehua. The composer, ʻAnakē Wahinekuipua, is of that family that came over to open up Hoʻolehua.

Mele is the repository of our moʻolelo Hawaiʻi. This mele holds so many stories of what went into making Hoʻolehua ready for homesteading. It makes you feel more fortunate to mahalo all of their pule, because years and generations later, we continue to benefit from that. Hoʻolehua wasn't made ready just for us. We didn’t just come onto the ʻāina and it was mākaukau. There were ʻohana that put in the hard work. 

Know the mo'olelo of your place. Mahalo your place. Take care of it. Know the names of our places. If we don’t use it, we lose it. If anything, that is what I would hope our keiki Hoʻolehua would take from this mele.” - ʻAwapuhimele Napoleon-O’Brien

​Kalanianaʻole Song

Haku ʻia ka ʻōlelo e Iaukea
Haku ʻia ka leo e Hailama Farden
Mele ʻia e Hailama Farden
​

Haʻaheo wale ʻoe, e Hawaiʻi
Iā Kalanianaʻole, ka ʻelele
ʻImi ai i ka pono kaulike
I ke kapitala o Wakinekona

Hui:
E lōkahi, e kuʻikahi
E koho like iā Kalanianaʻole
Kaʻu ia e ʻiʻini nei
ʻO Kalanianaʻole, ka ʻelele

E ke kuahiwi nani o Maui
Me ke kuahiwi aʻo Līhau
Hiʻipoi ʻia iho ʻo Kalani
ʻO Kalanianaʻole nō ka ʻoi

E ka moku puni nani aʻo Hina
Noho ana i ka uluwehiwehi
Aʻo kaʻu hoʻoheno mau nō ia
ʻO Kalanianaʻole nō ka heke
Hawaiʻi is proud
Of Kalanianaʻole, the delegate
Seeking equal rights
At the capitol of Washington

Chorus:
Stand in unity
Elect Kalanianaʻole
This is my desire
Kalanianaʻole for delegate

The beautiful mountain of Maui
With the beautiful mountain, Līhau
Kalani is cherished
Kalanianaʻole is the best

The beautiful island of Hina
Residing in the verdant beauty
This is forever my desire
Kalanianaʻole is the greatest

Iaukea, presumably Col. Curtis Piehu Iaukea, was a well known figure in the time of the Hawaiian monarchy and a contemporary to Kalanianaʻole. While Iaukea’s original tune may be hard to come by, Hailama Farden has interwoven a new melody with century-old lyrics – a beautiful representation of the years and generations that have benefited from Kalanianaʻole.

Kuʻu Home i Keaukaha

Haku ʻia e Albert Nahale-a
Mele ʻia e Kīhei Nahale-a, Wahinepōʻaimoku Nahale-a, Leinalu Enesa, Kamakahukilani Plunkett,
​ʻAuliʻi Tai-Hook & Moanahiwalani Walker
​

ʻIke ʻia i ka nani ʻo Keaukaha
ʻĀina hoʻopulapula no nā Hawaiʻi
Home uluwehiwehi i ka ʻulu hala
He nohea i ka maka o ka lehulehu

He makana kēia mai ke aliʻi
Nou e nā kini pua no nā Hawaiʻi
Mālama pono iho a he waiwai nui
ʻO ke ola nō ia ka puʻuhonua

Mahalo iā ʻoe e ke aliʻi
ʻO Kalanianaʻole nō kou inoa
E hana like kākou me ke aloha
I mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono
Keaukaha is seen in the beauty
Homestead land for Hawaiians
Verdant home in the grove of hala
A lovely appearance for us all

This is a gift from the Prince
For you, children of Hawaiʻi
Preserve this valuable gift
Life endures in this sanctuary

We are so grateful for you
Kalanianaʻole is your name
Let us all follow suit
So that the life of this land endures in righteousness

“A kūpuna once told me that Keaukaha was known as a ‘poor town.’ Hawaiians moved there because they couldn't afford to live anywhere else. This mele was composed to change that perspective – to instill pride in Keaukaha. Knowing the pride Keaukaha has today, especially in our young people, I’m reminded that we can’t take that for granted. Our pride for our ʻāina is something that we have to constantly nurture, or pride can turn into something else. 

This mele is for Hawaiian youth, families, and our people to say we are just as relevant, we are just as capable, and we are special, because we are from this place. I want our kids and families to embrace this song with much pride as our kūpuna did. I want Keaukaha to sing the song, and remember the moʻolelo behind it. Because I know this mele, wherever I go, Keaukaha comes with me. 

My grandpa wrote this song. I never met my grandpa. For me, what he left behind are my clues to who he was. Singing this mele allows me – and now, my daughter – to have a relationship with our kūpuna.” - Kīhei Nahale-a

Kalanianaʻole Kou Inoa

Haku ʻia e Henry Enoka
Oli ʻia e Keliʻi Ruth 
​

He inoa nou e Kalanianaʻole
Kuʻu lani aloha i ka ʻāina

Me ou mau hoa ʻilipuakea
I aloha kūpaʻa i ka Mōʻī

E walea ana ʻoe me ka lāhui
I ka home kākela malu i ka leo

Waimaka paʻa ʻole no Kalani
Ka nohona hoʻi o ke kau ʻīnea

Na nā Lani aʻe kōkua mai
Iā ʻoe, kuʻu pani, me ka lāhui

ʻOnipaʻa ke aloha no ka ʻāina
Me ou lāhui makaʻāinana

Mākou kēia me ke aloha
Nā keiki o ka home kākela

Ea aku mākou, ō mai ʻoe
ʻO Kalanianaʻole kou inoa

Hoʻokahi ka puana me ka lāhui
ʻOnipaʻa ke aloha no ka ʻāina
​A name song for you, Kalanianaʻole
My Royal who loves the ʻāina

Together with your fair-skinned allies
Who are faithful in aloha for the Queen

You repose with the Kingdom
In the castle under strict commands

Tears flow for the Royal one
For the time of hardship

The Royal ones shall assist
You, representative, and our people

Aloha for our ʻāina remains steadfast
And your people’s nation

Here we are with adoration
The children of the castle

We know sovereignty, respond to this
Kalanianaʻole is your name

There is only one refrain for the nation
​Love for the ʻāina must remain steadfast

Kalanianaʻole’s most notable contributions – ʻāina hoʻopulapula, Hawaiian civic clubs and more – emerges from the later years of his life. This particular mele is found in Buke Mele Lahui, a collection of mele aloha ʻāina published in 1895, well before Kalanianaʻole’s career as a statesman. Following the overthrow of Queen Liliʻuokalani in 1893, Kalanianaʻole joined his revolutionary contemporaries in an attempt to restore the monarchy. He was arrested, charged with treason, and imprisoned for a year. Henry Enoka honors the “keiki o ka home kākela malu i ka leo,” especially Kalanianaʻole. Ea aku mākou, ō mai ʻoe. ʻO Kalanianaʻole kou inoa!

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