Kāhuli Leo Leʻa welcomes you to its inaugural Mele Conference – a gathering for mele Hawaiʻi and the community who stewards this celebrated cultural practice.
Conference Overview
(subject to change)
Day 1 – Monday, June 16, 2025
The conference begins with a series of plenary sessions dedicated to overarching conversations of mele, including haku mele, hula, Hawaiian language revitalization, and composing lāhui.
He Aha ia Mea he Mele: Exploring Mele Fundamentals (Plenary Session)
This first plenary session of the inaugural Mele Conference features a fundamental discussion around the significance of mele as a cultural practice – from discussions on the unique procedures and values of haku mele (mele composition) to the importance of mele within Hawaiʻi’s contemporary soundscape.
Ola ka ʻŌlelo i ke Mele: Hawaiian Language Revitalization through Mele (Plenary Session)
This panel highlights the vital role of mele in revitalizing and sustaining the Hawaiian language. Panelists will share how mele serve as powerful tools for language learning, cultural transmission, and community empowerment across generations and contexts.
E Mele ai ka Hula: Fluency in Mele, Fluency in Hula (Plenary Session)
This panel explores the integral connection between mele and hula, where fluency in one enhances the understanding of the other. Panelists will discuss intersections between linguistic, cultural, and performative fluency in the practices of hula and mele.
Mele Lāhui: A Continuum of Aloha ʻĀina (Plenary Session)
This panel centers mele lāhui (songs of Hawaiian nationalism) as expressions of aloha ʻāina across time. Panelists will examine how these mele have carried the voice of the Lāhui through political shifts, cultural movements, and ongoing efforts toward ea – in order to explore how mele lāhui continue to inspire identity, resistance, and hope.The conference begins with a series of plenary sessions dedicated to overarching conversations of mele, including haku mele, hula, Hawaiian language revitalization, and composing lāhui.
He Aha ia Mea he Mele: Exploring Mele Fundamentals (Plenary Session)
This first plenary session of the inaugural Mele Conference features a fundamental discussion around the significance of mele as a cultural practice – from discussions on the unique procedures and values of haku mele (mele composition) to the importance of mele within Hawaiʻi’s contemporary soundscape.
Ola ka ʻŌlelo i ke Mele: Hawaiian Language Revitalization through Mele (Plenary Session)
This panel highlights the vital role of mele in revitalizing and sustaining the Hawaiian language. Panelists will share how mele serve as powerful tools for language learning, cultural transmission, and community empowerment across generations and contexts.
E Mele ai ka Hula: Fluency in Mele, Fluency in Hula (Plenary Session)
This panel explores the integral connection between mele and hula, where fluency in one enhances the understanding of the other. Panelists will discuss intersections between linguistic, cultural, and performative fluency in the practices of hula and mele.
Mele Lāhui: A Continuum of Aloha ʻĀina (Plenary Session)
This panel centers mele lāhui (songs of Hawaiian nationalism) as expressions of aloha ʻāina across time. Panelists will examine how these mele have carried the voice of the Lāhui through political shifts, cultural movements, and ongoing efforts toward ea – in order to explore how mele lāhui continue to inspire identity, resistance, and hope.The conference begins with a series of plenary sessions dedicated to overarching conversations of mele, including haku mele, hula, Hawaiian language revitalization, and composing lāhui.
Day 2 – Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Breakout sessions are tailored towards mele practitioners, educators, and music industry professionals, featuring presentations on oli, hula, mele in academia, welo ʻohana, intellectual property, music royalties, and more.
Music Royalty Roadmap (Breakout Session)
The cultural practice of mele persists when mele practitioners enjoy economic sustainability. One pathway toward economic sustainability comes in the form of music royalties. This breakout session offers an introduction to music royalties – what they are, how it works, and why it is important. Learn how to track, collect, and maximize your music royalty income. Learn more about PROs, SoundExchange, and the MLC, along with revenue generated from streaming, live performances, TV, film, commercials, and music videos.
Mele and Academia (Breakout Session)
This panel features discussion around the importance of mele within academia – from developing theory and methodologies to implementing praxis.
Nā Mele ʻOhana: Intergenerational Resonance (Breakout Session)
This breakout session celebrates family musical legacies, highlighting how generations of ʻohana serve as stewards of language, poetry and identity.
Mele and Intellectual Property (Breakout Session)
Mele are traditional apparati for knowledge management. In the face of contemporary challenges related to the misappropriation of what some call “Native Hawaiian Intellectual Property,” mele provides a model for knowledge management that focuses on stewardship over ownership. Panelists with backgrounds in law, cultural practice and the entertainment industry will discuss the value mele brings to the conversation of intellectual property.
Hakukole (Breakout Session)
This session explores a specific genre of mele: “hakukole” which Pukui and Elbert define as “To defame, ridicule, as in figurative language and chant; defamer.” This is a special presentation offered by a renowned mele practitioner.
Creating Space: Loina of Mele Performance (Breakout Session)
This breakout session explores the loina of mele performance, highlighting the cultural protocols and practices that curate space for performer and audience. Panelists will discuss their experiences and values that drive their presentations of mele and the spaces they create as a result.
Mele Oli (Breakout Session)
This breakout session will feature a renowned practitioner of oli (Hawaiian chant).
Reflections of the Hula Musician (Breakout Session)
What does it mean to be a “hula musician?” This session asks seasoned “hula musicians” to reflect on their roles, experiences, and kuleana in supporting the hula dancer – and how their kuleana may differ from another type of musician. Panelists will explore mele hula arrangements, intentional performance, and pilina with the kumu hula and ʻōlapa.
Ka Welo Mele - Cultivating ʻOhana Mele (Breakout Session)
Promoting the rich importance of mele starts at home – with family. By featuring ʻohana who have dedicated their family spaces to mele, this presentation explores investing in family through mele – and investing in mele through family.
Music Royalty Roadmap (Breakout Session)
The cultural practice of mele persists when mele practitioners enjoy economic sustainability. One pathway toward economic sustainability comes in the form of music royalties. This breakout session offers an introduction to music royalties – what they are, how it works, and why it is important. Learn how to track, collect, and maximize your music royalty income. Learn more about PROs, SoundExchange, and the MLC, along with revenue generated from streaming, live performances, TV, film, commercials, and music videos.
Mele and Academia (Breakout Session)
This panel features discussion around the importance of mele within academia – from developing theory and methodologies to implementing praxis.
Nā Mele ʻOhana: Intergenerational Resonance (Breakout Session)
This breakout session celebrates family musical legacies, highlighting how generations of ʻohana serve as stewards of language, poetry and identity.
Mele and Intellectual Property (Breakout Session)
Mele are traditional apparati for knowledge management. In the face of contemporary challenges related to the misappropriation of what some call “Native Hawaiian Intellectual Property,” mele provides a model for knowledge management that focuses on stewardship over ownership. Panelists with backgrounds in law, cultural practice and the entertainment industry will discuss the value mele brings to the conversation of intellectual property.
Hakukole (Breakout Session)
This session explores a specific genre of mele: “hakukole” which Pukui and Elbert define as “To defame, ridicule, as in figurative language and chant; defamer.” This is a special presentation offered by a renowned mele practitioner.
Creating Space: Loina of Mele Performance (Breakout Session)
This breakout session explores the loina of mele performance, highlighting the cultural protocols and practices that curate space for performer and audience. Panelists will discuss their experiences and values that drive their presentations of mele and the spaces they create as a result.
Mele Oli (Breakout Session)
This breakout session will feature a renowned practitioner of oli (Hawaiian chant).
Reflections of the Hula Musician (Breakout Session)
What does it mean to be a “hula musician?” This session asks seasoned “hula musicians” to reflect on their roles, experiences, and kuleana in supporting the hula dancer – and how their kuleana may differ from another type of musician. Panelists will explore mele hula arrangements, intentional performance, and pilina with the kumu hula and ʻōlapa.
Ka Welo Mele - Cultivating ʻOhana Mele (Breakout Session)
Promoting the rich importance of mele starts at home – with family. By featuring ʻohana who have dedicated their family spaces to mele, this presentation explores investing in family through mele – and investing in mele through family.
Day 3 – Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Recognizing the inherent relationship between hula and mele, the conference culminates with the Mele Hula Festival, a new mele and hula competition on June 18.
