Synopsis: None can deny the genius of Hawaiian poetry, which was made even more brilliant by the accompaniment of intricate melodies, harmonies and instrumentation. The “haunting” Hawaiian songs are called such for a reason; their melody lingers within the mind and spirit of those who sing and hear them. Hawaiian music is cherished not only by those here in Hawai‘i, but by people all around the world. Here is our word of encouragement for us all, to learn how to play our instruments, and to learn them well, so that we can all perpetuate this special part of Hawai‘i, Hawaiian music.
E ka makamaka heluhelu ‘alo mau i ke ko‘ele a ka ua Kūkalahale, aloha nui kākou. Eia nō ho‘i kāu po‘e mea kākau nei ‘o Kekua lāua ‘o Pu‘uwai ke hāpai a‘e nei i wahi mana‘o nāu e nalu ai. ‘O ke akamai o nā pu‘ukani ma ka leo hīmeni ka mea i mahalo ‘ia e kākou i kēia au. Ua lawa paha kākou i ka leo hīmeni a me ke koekoe ‘ia o ka hua māhoe C. Pehea na‘e nā mea akamai i ka ho‘okani pila? Ka po‘e e ho‘okani ana i ka Eb6 a i ‘ole ka C7b9? ‘A‘ole anei ia he mea e ho‘oki‘eki‘e ana i ke mele? ‘A‘ole paha like ka nui o ka mahalo ‘ia e ka lehulehu.
Pu‘uwai Eia na‘e, i nā makahiki mua o ke kenekulia 20, ‘o nā mele Hawai‘i a me nā bāna nāna lākou e ho‘okani, ‘o ia ka mea laha loa ma nā welelau o ka honua nei ma mua o nā ‘ano mele ‘ē a‘e. He huaka‘i hele kā kēlā me kēia bāna, e like me kā Sol Ho‘opi‘i (Sol Ho‘opi‘i and His Novelty Quartet), kā Andy Iona (Andy Iona and His Islanders), kā Harry Owens (Harry Owens and His Royal Hawaiians), kā Ray Kinney (The Ray Kinney Orchestra), kā Bill Kalama (Kalama’s Quartet), a nui hou a‘e.
Ke no‘ono‘o kākou i ke kumu o ko lākou kaulana a puni ka honua, ‘a‘ole paha pēlā no nā hua ‘ōlelo o loko o nā mele. No ka leo hone paha ia o ke mele. No ke kani hoehoene paha ia o nā pila. No ka po‘e e ho‘olohe ana i ua mau hui hīmeni nei ma ‘Amelika Hui Pū ‘Ia, ‘a‘ohe o lākou ho‘omaopopo iki i kahi mana‘o o nā mele, akā, ‘o ka hō‘eu‘eu ‘ia o loko, a i ‘ole ia, ‘o ka ‘ume‘ume ‘ia o loko e ke kani o nā pila, ‘o ia ka mea e pi‘i ai ka hoi i loko o lākou, a ‘oni‘oni ke kino.
‘O ke akamai ma ka ho‘okani pila ka mea i hiki ai i ka haku mele ke ho‘oki‘eki‘e a‘e i kāna mele pono‘ī o ka haku ‘ana. Ma waho a‘e o nā lila, ‘o ka pila ke kuhikuhi aku i ke ‘ano o ka mana‘o o ke mele, e la‘a ka ‘oli‘oli, ke kaumaha, ke aloha, a pēlā wale aku. E like me kākou po‘e a‘o ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i, e ‘ole ka pa‘a o nā hua ‘ōlelo he nui wale, wehewehe pono ‘ia ka mana‘o ma ka ho‘opuka ‘ana. ‘O Nā Lani ‘Ehā, ua palamimo ka ho‘onohonoho ‘ana i ka hua mele, a ua ‘oi loa a‘e ka leo o kēlā me kēia mele ma muli o ko lākou a‘o ‘ia ma ia māhele nō.
Ua ‘a‘apo koke ‘ia nā ‘ano kaila like ‘ole e ko kākou po‘e kūpuna. ‘O ka ho‘okomo koke akula nō ia i ua mau kaila nei i loko o nā mele na lākou i haku. ‘A‘ohe o lākou hopohopo i ka nalo o ke kani Hawai‘i o ke mele, ‘oi pa‘a ko lākou kahua. O ho‘opa‘a ‘ia ko kākou kahua, a laila wale nō e kūkulu aku ai ma luna.
He mana‘o ko māua iā ‘oe, e ka mea heluhelu nei, ‘o ia ho‘i kēia: aia a a‘o ‘ia ka ho‘okani ‘ana i ka pila, a laila, ho‘oki‘eki‘e ‘ia nā mele āu o ka ho‘okani ‘ana. Pēia me ka po‘e e puana ana i nā mele na ha‘i i haku, hiki ke ho‘oki‘eki‘e ‘oi mālama ‘ia kona mana‘o. Pēlā kākou e pae aku ai i kahi ‘anu‘u a‘e o ke alapi‘i, a i kahi ‘anu‘u aku ho‘i. Ma o ko kākou ‘a‘apo pono i kēia mea nui ko‘iko‘i o ko kākou lāhui nei, pēlā e holomua ai.
E ho‘ouna ‘ia mai na ā leka iā māua, ‘o ia ho‘i ‘o Laiana Wong a me Kekeha Solis ma ka pahu leka uila ma lalo nei:
>> kwong@hawaii.edu
>> rsolis@hawaii.edu
a i ‘ole ia, ma ke kelepona:
>> 808-956-2627 (Laiana)
>> 808-956-2627 (Kekeha)
This column is coordinated by Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.
