Controversies inspire Hawaii protest songs

The release of "A’ole TMT," Maui reggae musician Marty Dread’s song protesting completion of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea, follows in a long tradition of mele kue (songs of resistance) about issues ranging from the overthrow of the Hawaiian government to contemporary land and water use.

 

This list of 10 memorable mele kue begins with "Kaulana na Pua," the first song known to have been written to protest the overthrow, and continues in alphabetical order:

 

1. "Kaulana na Pua": Eleanor Prendergast responded to the overthrow of her close friend Liliuokakani in 1893 at the request of members of the Royal Hawaiian Band, who had refused to sign the loyalty oath required by the usurper Republic of Hawaii. The lyrics speak of the patriots’ love of their homeland and their support of their queen, and state that the rights of the people are not for sale. (Modern research shows the melody was probably composed by Jose Libornio, a member of the band at that time.)

2. "Broken Promise": Written by Henry Kapono Ka’aihue in 1991 to protest the many decades of mismanagement and insider deals at the Hawaiian Homes Commission. Roland Cazimero, Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo’ole and Cyril Pahinui joined him in recording it. "Broken Promise" won two Na Hoku Hanohano Awards in 1992.

3. "Couldn’t Take the Mana": Mana Kaleilani Caceres used Jamaican rhythms to deliver his message of defiance in 2001: "They took the land, they took aloha, overthrew the queen even though they didn’t know her … but they couldn’t take the mana."

 

4. "Hawaii ’78": Mickey Ioane pondered what the alii of old would say if they could see what Hawaii had become in 1978, when the song was written, and concluded they would not be happy. One of the most memorable recordings made by the Makaha Sons of Ni’ihau, it was available for many years only as the B side of a vinyl single.

 

5. "Ka Makakakaua": Palani Vaughan gave up mainstream commercial success in the 1970s and recorded four albums honoring the accomplishments, ideals and legacy of Kalakaua. He wrote this song to commemorate the patriotic Hawaiians who opposed the infamous Bayonet Constitution of 1887.

6. "Look What They’ve Done": "Brother Noland" Conjugacion decried the results of chockablock high-rise construction in Waikiki in terms everyone could understand: "Too much hotels, someone’s gotta tell them, no more Hawaiian style." It was the 1980s. "Hawaiian radio" wouldn’t play it.

 

7. "Mele o Kaho’olawe": Written by Henry Kanihi Mitchell to protest the use of Kahoolawe as a bombing range by the U.S. military. Olomana recorded it at a time when Hawaii’s elected officials from U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye on down supported continued bombardment of the Target Island.

8. "My Hawaiian Queen": Career criminal John Kalani Lincoln learned to read in prison and spent the rest of his time there reading about the history of Hawaii. His autobiographical song about discovering Liliuokalani’s legacy won him a spot on Ron Jacobs’ first KKUA "Homegrown" album in 1976.

 

9. "Nanakuli Blues/Waimanalo Blues": Liko Martin and Thor Wald wrote this song about Nanakuli in 1974. Country Comfort came from Waimanalo and changed the location, but the lyrics apply throughout Hawaii: "The beaches they sell, to build their hotels, my fathers and I once knew."

 

10. "Song of Sovereignty": Leo Anderson Akana wrote hits about partying ("Island Love") and pakalolo ("Cane Fire!") for the Peter Moon Band. In 1989, she also wrote this powerful call to action, and the band recorded it several years before sovereignty was fashionable in mainstream circles here.