Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 6, 1 June 2010 — Ancient mele o Hawaiʻi [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Ancient mele o Hawaiʻi

Ancient Hula Hawaiian Style Volume I: Hula Kuahu

Cord lnternational and Hana Ola Records

This is truly a kahikostyle eompilahon alhum of legendary chanters gathered and organized from Hawai'i's territorial period by the esteemed Dr. Amy Ku'uleialoha Stillman. Words cannot express how these voices from the past remind us of our beloved and inviolable ties to our sacred lineage, whieh is intrinsically tied to the 'āina. This first volume includes sacred kuahu hula, or shrine hula, whieh were traditionally performed in the forests of Hawai'i or in the presence of an altar to the beat of

pahu (drum) covered in sharkskin. These powerful, expressive ancient hula were a part of the ancient, dramatic hula, 'āla'apapa, and told stories of the past. A future CD, Volume II, will focus on 'ōlapa, or hula that ean performed anywhere,

meaning without the kuahu. The CD includes 20 tracks by respected chanters, George Nā'ope, Pua and Amoe Ha'aheo, Lōkālia Montgomery, Anna Cash, Joe Kahaulelio, Charles Cash, 'Iolani Luahine, Pele Pukui and Ka'upena Wong. Keep in mind that although these early recordings are digitally remastered, some are from the 1930s and have a different quality from what today's 'ōpio, or youth, are used to. The CD includes 24 pages of Hawaiian-English translations

and essays about this collection. — Francine Murray M Available wherever fine Hawaiian music is sold or online at CordInternational.com.

Aloha E Aloha E Aloha E

0'Brian Eselu Hiki No Records

This CD is titled after the late Aunty Mālia Craver's profound statement: "The legacy is love for your land, love for your people and for the love of God, aloha e, aloha e, aloha e." The CD starts with a chant of aloha and glides into "E Ku'u Pua," a mele

inoa written by Aunty Mālia for the late Kumu Hula Thadius K. Wilson with music by 0'Brian Eselu. Another beautiful mele inoa, "E Leilani Keawe" for Aunty Genoa Keawe is by Lonoikuwa of Kona, who was moved by the benediction he heard at Aunty's memorial services. Eselu picks up the paee with "Punalu'u," whieh he first heard sung by Dottie Kalima 40 years ago. Other classics on this delightful CD

are "Noho Paipai" and "Kahalaopuna." Qriginals by Eselu include "Kalaeloa," written for the area of O'ahu with the help of Kumu Hula John Kaimikane; "Kahana," inspired when headed to Lā'ie, Eselu said, "a low lying cloud surrounded the head of Kahana 's mountain like a lei po'o and the bay was ealm . . . When this type of clouds appears

the people of Kahana say, 'The ancestors are present.' " "Lanikūhonua" was inspired by a good morning after a hiatus tfom hula, "Ke 'alailiahi" is for Doreen Ke'alailiahi Paishon Lindsey, "Mā'ili Paka" was written after seeing families having a great time at Mā'ili Beach Park, and the retfeshing "He Pōmaika'i" is a song of blessings from above. — Francine Murray M Available at music stores and online at Mele.com.

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