Aia i Makaoa ka Lua o ke Ala

[Photo: Pāʻū riders; Hawaiʻi.; ca. 1880; Photographed by H.L. Chase; SP 209717.][Photo: Pāʻū rider; Hawaiʻi; ca. 1900; SP 77131.][Photo: Pāʻū riders on the island of Kauaʻi; Nāwiliwili, Kauaʻi; ca. 1890; SP 38127.] Previous Next Aia i Makaoa ka Lua o ke Ala “Do not move in my direction, for you are a horse with an […]

Kanikau Nalimu

[Photo: Rev. H.B. Nalimu. Born in 1835; Pāpaʻaloa, Hawaiʻi. SP 215173.] Aloha ku‘u Haku i ka Ua Kanilehua Happy Mele Monday!  Today’s mele kanikau was contributed to the Roberts Mele Collection by Reverend H.B. Nalimu. Born in Pāpaʻaloa, Hilo, Reverend Nalimu was known for his expertise in mele, traditional bird catching, and fishing. (Translation by […]

Wa‘ewa‘e

[Photo: Young girl demonstrating Hawaiian string figures; Hawaiʻi; SP 103509.] Wa‘ewa‘e Happy Mele Monday! Today we feature a mele hei, or string figure chant, contributed to the collection by J.P. Hale. (Mele translation by Mary Kawena Pukui) Wa‘ewa‘e —-  O Wa‘ewa‘e, Hō mai ka i‘a   Give me fish ‘A‘ohe i‘a   I have no fish Kā […]

No Hilo ‘oe

[Photo: View of Hilo town looking towards Kamehameha Ave. on Waianuenue St.; Hilo, Hawaiʻi.; Ca 1947. SP 120087.][Photo: Aerial view of Niuliʻi; Kohala, Hawaiʻi; Ca 1930. SP 73629.][Photo: Waterfront of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, with Mokuʻaikaua Church (left) and Huliheʻe Palace (right); Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi.; Ca 1885. SP 77418.][Photo: Waipio Valley and the Hāmākua Coast with view of […]

Honouli

[Photo: Nihoa Island from the air; Ca 1933. SP 86351.] [Photo: 11th Photo Sec. B-2396. W. Lehua Island. From W. 500 Ft.; July 10, 1924. SP 215433.] Honouli Today we feature a prayer contributed to the collection by Theodore Kelsey. Images of Nihoa and Lehua are beautifully illustrated through the composer’s use of poetic language. […]

A Puʻuhānau Wau

[Photo: Waiheʻe Valley, Maui. Photographed by J.F. Rock. SP_215214.] Welo Hou A Puʻuhānau Wau Contributed to the collection by J.P Hale, today’s featured mele originates from the Island of Maui and employs the ʻAlae bird as a metaphor to describe people who spread scandalous tales. (Mele translation by Mary Kawena Pukui) A Puʻuhānau wau, aha   I was […]

Flightless Flies in Hawai‘i

Flightless Flies in Hawai‘i by Neal L. Evenhuis, Senior Entomologist Entomology The common joke goes …“What do you call a fly without wings? A walk”. Actually, most just hop. But I’ll wager many people do not think that there even can be things called ‘flightless flies’. Well, in Hawai‘i we have more species of flightless […]

He Pule Kanu ʻAwa na Kāne

[Photo: Dish for ʻawa; Kānoa. This is a handmade kamani wood bowl with a flat bottom and a shellac finish. It is a bowl used to prepare and serve ʻawa. Photo copyright by David Franzen. SXH 128115.] He Pule Kanu ʻAwa na Kāne Today’s featured mele is a prayer for planting ‘awa. Often associated with […]

ʻO Kamakaʻeha, ʻo Liliʻu, ʻo Loloku

“Kamakaʻeha (the sore eyes), Liliʻu (the smarting), and Loloku (the pouring tears) were names given to Queen Liliʻuokalani. Kīnaʻu, daughter of Kamehameha I, was once troubled with sore eyes, and her physician kept her in a dark room until she became well again.

Kuʻu Makua i ka Hale Uluna Kanaka

Today we feature a composition written by Queen Kaʻahumanu. In this mele kanikau, Queen Kaʻahumanu expresses feelings of deep grief as she mourns the passing of her mother, Namahana.