Election seasons of the past were melodic.
Cover Image: Masthead of Ka Nupepa Kuokoa published on November 10, 1916.
Unlike what seems to be a flurry of constant negativity we hear during the election season lately, when looking through the Hawaiian newspapers, the turn of the century was different—the election season was…melodic. Mele supporting a candidate or a party appeared frequently in the newspapers. Some of the composers are still widely known today.
This mele for Prince Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole, candidate for delegate to Congress, calls out to each of the islands to offer their lei to Kūhiō. The composer is the famous kanaka waiolina Samuel Liʻa Kalāinaina.
Image: Traveling to or from the Democratic National Convention in Kansas City as organizers of the Democratic Party in Hawaiʻi. L to R: William H. Cornwell, John Wise, David Kawānanakoa, John D. Holt II, Clarence W. Ashford. Photo by Bushell in San Francisco, California ca. 1904. Bishop Museum Archives. SP 111666
Image sharing on social media is welcome. For all other uses please contact Archives@BishopMuseum.org .
HE HOʻOHENO LEI NO KALANIANAʻOLE.
1
E hō mai i nā pua nani o ka wao,
Wehi lei no Kalanianaʻole,
ʻElele i Wakinekona.
E kui mai nō a lawa,
Hiʻi ʻia mai no Kalani.
2
O Kauaʻi o Mano o Kalanipō,
Kui mai i lei no ke Aliʻi,
ʻElele i Wakinekona.
ʻOhu lei mokihana,
Kau pāpahi lei nona.
3
E Niʻihau ē, e ō mai ʻoe,
ʻO kau lei no Kalanianaʻole,
ʻElele i Wakinekona.
I wehi lei rube,
I pulupē i ka hunakai.
4
E Oʻahu i ke kaona nui,
Hō mai i lei no ke Aliʻi,
Ka ʻElele i Wakinekona.
I wehi lei carnation,
I wili ʻia me ka ʻilima.
5
E ō e Molokaʻi nui a Hina,
ʻO kau lei no Kalanianaʻole,
Ka ʻElele i Wakinekona.
I wehi lei kukui,
Kau ʻohu ia no Kalani.
6
E aha ana hoʻi ʻoe e Lānaʻi,
E wiki, i ʻohu no ke Aliʻi,
Ka ʻElele i Wakinekona.
I lei pua hinahina,
I pulupē i ka hunakai.
7
E Maui i ka Honoapiʻilani,
ʻO kau lei hoʻi no ke Aliʻi,
Ka ʻElele i Wakinekona.
I wehi lei roselani,
Moani ʻaʻala i ka poli.
8
E Hawaiʻi nui Moku o Keawe,
Kui aʻe i wehi no ke Aliʻi,
Ka ʻElele i Wakinekona.
I nā lehua o Panaʻewa,
I wili ʻia me ka maile.
9
Haina ʻia mai ana ka puana,
Nā wehi lei o Kalanianaʻole,
Ka ʻElele i Wakinekona.
Kiʻi mai nō e lei,
I ʻohu nou e Kalani.
Haku ʻia e ka HENE WAI O HIʻILAWE.
By Samuel L. Kalāinaina.
AN EXPRESSION OF AFFECTION AS A LEI FOR KALANIANAʻOLE.
1
Send forth beautiful blossoms of the forest,
An adorning lei for Kalanianaʻole,
Delegate to Washington.
String them and make fast,
To be borne by the Royal One.
2
O Kauaʻi of Mano o Kalanipō,
String a lei for the Chief,
Delegate to Washington.
An adornment of mokihana lei,
Your lei to honor him.
3
O Niʻihau, respond,
Your lei for Kalanianaʻole,
Delegate to Washington.
A ruby lei adornment,
Drenched in the sea spray.
4
O Oʻahu of the large town,
Bestow a lei to the Chief,
Delegate to Washington.
A carnation lei adornment,
Entwined with ʻilima.
5
Respond O Great Molokaʻi of Hina,
Your lei for Kalanianaʻole,
Delegate to Washington.
An adornment of kukui lei,
That is your adornment for the Royal One.
6
What of you O Lānaʻi,
Be quick with your adornment for the Chief,
Delegate to Washington.
A lei of hinahina blossoms,
Drenched in the seaspray.
7
O Maui of the bays of Piʻilani,
Your lei for the Aliʻi,
Delegate to Washington.
A roselani lei adornment,
Wafting fragrantly in the bosom.
8
O great Hawaiʻi Island of Keawe,
String an adornment for the chief,
Delegate to Washington.
Lehua from Panaʻewa,
Entwined with maile.
9
Let the refrain be told,
The lei adornments for Kalanianaʻole,
The delegate to Washington.
Fetch and wear the lei,
Adornment for you O Chief.
Composed by the HENE WAI O HIʻILAWE.
By Samuel L. Kalāinaina
The following mele for Charles A. Rice, Republican candidate for delegate to Congress, is attributed to Mrs. A. St. Chad Piianaia. Abraham Piianaia’s first wife, Fanny Malulani passes on January 28, 1907, so the composer must be his second wife, Louise Kalama (married on December 27, 1909).
Image: Portrait of Charles Rice, appearing in “The Builders of Hawaii,” Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Ltd., p. 728.
Image: Piianaia, Mrs. A. St. Chad, “He Mele no Kale Laiki,” Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, September 4, 1914, p. 1.
A SONG FOR KALE LAIKI.
(CHAS. A. RICE)
Kale Laiki is dignified to see,
Candidate for delegate to Washington.
He shall seek out great benefits,
Equal rights for the people.
The multitudes of Hawaiʻi voted for him,
Maui also lent a hand.
Listen, O Kauaʻi of Mano,
Here is your lei placed on high.
Carried by Oʻahu,
A favorite one for Molokaʻi.
Lānaʻi shows his beauty,
Charles Rice is the Delegate to America.
We call out to you; answer us,
You are the Delegate of the People.
Let the refrain be told,
Charles Rice is the delegate that will save Hawaiʻi.
Composed by Mrs. A. St. Chad Piianaia.
You still hear “Ka Loke” sung today, as well as “Hilo Ē.” Other than a composer of mele, Mary K. Heanu was a hula teacher and singer. She was married to Henry Heanu, Hawaiian Band trombone player. In 1922 when this mele was published, John Wise was running as a Republican candidate for delegate to Congress.
Image: Heanu, Mrs. Mary K., “He Hooheno no John Wise,” Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, November 2, 1922, p. 3.
HOʻOHENO NO JOHN WISE
He lei lanakila no Keoni Waika,
I moho ʻelele i Wakinekona.
Ua koho ʻia ʻoe e ka lehulehu,
I makua hoʻi ʻoe no ka lāhui.
E hana i na hana me ke kaulike,
I ola nā pua aʻo Hawaiʻi.
Kō lei ia e lei mau ai,
A kau i ke ao mālamalama.
Haʻina ʻia mai ana ka puana,
Keoni Waika e ka moho ola Hawaiʻi.
E ō mai ʻoe i kou inoa,
Ka ʻelele lanakila i Wakinekona.
Haku ʻia e MRS. MARY K. HEANU.
AN EXPRESSION OF AFFECTION FOR JOHN WISE
A lei of victory for Keoni Waika,
As candidate for delegate to Washington.
You have been chosen by the people,
As a parent for the nation.
Perform your work with fairness,
For the salvation of the youth of Hawaiʻi.
This is your lei to wear always,
Until comes the world of enlightenment.
Let the refrain be told,
John Wise, candidate to save Hawaiʻi.
Answer to your name,
The victorious delegate to Washington.
Composed by MRS. MARY K. HEANU.
This post is part of He Aupuni Palapala: Preserving and Digitizing the Hawaiian Language Newspapers, a partnership between Bishop Museum and Awaiaulu with assistance from Kamehameha Schools. Mahalo nui loa to Hawaii Tourism Authority for their support. Learn more about this project here.
