Hula Page |
|
|
|
Hula Page |
|
|
|
"I ka 'olelo no ke ola, i ka 'olelo no ka make." -In the word is life, in the word is death.
This Hawaiian proverb reflects the preeminence of the spoken word and of the mele in Hawaiian culture.Mele are divided into mele oli, meant to be sung or recited, and the more melodious mele hula, intended for dance.
There are many types of mele classified by purpose, subject and style of the drummer/chanter, or ho'opa'a.
For example, the most popular type of chant, mele inoa, is a name chant honoring a god, chief or individual. Mele pule is a prayer. Mele kaua is a war song praising warriors.
Other chant types include ko'ihonua, genealogical chants; mele ho'oipoipo, love chants ; and mele pana, praising a legendary place.
One may address chants to 'aumakua (family gods) with animal manifestations, such as the dog (mele 'ilio), plover (mele kolea), shark (mele mano), pig (mele pua'a) and turtle (mele honu).
Formerly mele 'ilio, mele kolea and mele mano were evident throughout the islands. But only certain families on Kaua'i and the Big Island performed the latter mele pua'a and mele honu.
Mele categorized by style include the bombastic 'ai ha'a, the emotive ho'aeae used in love chants, and the rapid and monotonic kepakepa.
The poetic Hawaiians incorporate kaona, or underlying meanings, into many of their chants. For example, if one chants about the lehua, one may refer to the beauty of the crimson rain blossom and, on a second level, to the goddess Hi'iaka, and on a third level, to a lover.
Formerly kahuna, or priests, often composed the poetry, which embraced Hawaiian literature, legends, history and genealogy. The genealogical chants sometimes spanned forty generations."*
*Source: Things Hawaiian/A Pocket Guide to the Islands - Hula and Chant, Kekoa Catherine Enomoto, pp. 10-13, Island Heritage Publishers
email us
Pages owned and published by:
L. "Mapuana" Beauregard-Axelson & D. "Kuane" Axelson
Copyright © Jan. 1, 2001 mapukua
