Category Archives: Mele

Kawaihau Glee Club performs in Washington State. 1905.

Posted on by
Reply

The Kawaihau Glee Club in Spokane, America.

Here below is a letter received as well as a program from some performances given by the Kawaihau Glee Club at Spokane, Washington (not Washington in the East, but Washington State to the North of California). It is apparent from the letter that the actions of that haole taking these Hawaiian boys around is much appreciated, and this is seen as below:

Spokane, Wash., October 7, 1905.

S. K. Nawaa, Aloha to you:

We’ve arrived in this beautiful town, we left Frisco on Saturday the 7th [?] at 11 a. m. and got to Seattle in the morning, at 7:30 a. m. boarded the 8 o’clock train for Spokane. Our contract is for 3 months. If they are taken by the sound of Hawaiian music, we will stay on for another 6 months, which would make 9 months total. Perhaps we will be like old grandparents by then.
I have sent a newspaper to you. But here is the thing, I had problems with the postage, so you will have to take care of it.
We really are thankful for our Boss here, W. L. Greenburn [?], he is an investigator. The one problem is that he treats us as if he is our father. Everything is first class, from the train, to the boat, to the hotel, and so forth. My friends, James Shaw, John Edward [Edwards?], D. Nape [David Nape], C. P. Kaleikoa, James Kulolia, James Kamakani, Kalani Peters, H. Kaeo and me, your friend as well, we are all in good health. As soon as I get acclimated to how it is here, I will write again.
Much Aloha,
Mekia Kealakai.

SILVER GRILL
MUSIC PROGRAM
Opening Enkakement of King Kalakau’s Kawaihau Orchestra.
EVENING PROGRAM, 9 to 12

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1905.

1 March “Hiki Mai” Arr by Berger
2 Song “Lei ohaha” Kealakai
3 Song “Ua hiki no me au” Kulolia
4 Song “Awaiaulu” Lala
5 Waltz “Aloha kuu home” Mahuia
6 Song “Eleile” Queen Lil
7 Song “Ooe no kai ike” Huelani
8 March “Maui” arr by Berger
9 Bass Solo “Wiliwili wai” Kamakani
10 Song (a dance) Hawaiian Maid” Kaeo
11 Waltz “Kawaiahau” Mekia
12 Song “Lei Lehua” King Kalakaua
13 Song “Malanai” Queen Lil
14 “Karama” Grey

THIS EVENING’S PROGRAM.

1 March “Lake” Nape
2 Song “Kawaihau” Mekia
3 Song “Maemae Lihau” Makini
4 Ballad “Like no a like” Alice
5 Song “Old Plantation” Nape
6 Song “E lei no au” Kapoli
7 Waltz “Kawaihau” Kealakai
8 Hula (a dance) “Komikomi” Eluene
9 March “Moana” Kaleikoa
10 Song “Pili aoao” Kulolia
11 Song “Lulu wai aloha” Kalani
12 Hula (a dance) Moanalua Kaeo
13 Ballad “Kaiulani” Eluene
14 Song “Ninipo” Pali
15 Song “Puni Kauoha” Mekia
16 Song “1, 2, 3, 4.” Kimo
17 Farewell Song “Aloha oe” Queen Li
18 Hawaiian National Anthem “Hawaii Ponoi King Kalakaua

[I am assuming that they copied the program as it was printed out in Washington…]

(Kuokoa, 11/3/1905, p. 5)

Ka Hui Himeni Kawaihau ma Spokane, Amerika.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XLIII, Helu 44, Aoao 5. Novemaba 3, 1905.

Kawaihau Glee Club off to San Francisco. 1905.

Posted on by
1

The Famous Singing Group “Kawaihau”

They Left for Afar.

“E nihi ka helena mai hoopa; [Tread carefully, don’t touch;]
Mai pulale i ka ike a ka maka [Don’t get excited by what the eye sees:]
Hookahi no makamaka o ke ALOHA [There is but one companion, that is ALOHA];
A hea mai ia Kawaihau e kipa. [Calling out to Kawaihau to come visit.]”¹

Aboard the deck of the steamship Alameda that moved swiftly on to the Golden Gate of California on the morning of Wednesday was seen the members of the famed singing group “Kawaihau” standing like officers of the ship while garlands of fragrant flowers of the beloved land hung about their necks; they wore the lei like a beloved sweetheart ever imbuing fragrance in their bosom. They were seen inhaling for the last time the adornment familiar to them as they were leaving for the great sea headed for foreign lands; and they were seeing for the last time the verdure of the land which disappeared from their eyes for who knows how long.

Not just them, but also there were the companions to curl up together in the cold nights—their wives, there to kiss their cheeks for the last time, which they sealed threefold with love, as

“O ka hao a ka ua i na pali [The assault of the rain in the cliffs]
Pale oe, pale au, pale kaua.” Aloha no! [I fend off, you fend off, we both fend off.”² Aloha!]

Just as reported earlier in the Kuokoa of last week, so did this group carry out, and today they are travelling over the ocean to fulfill the contract made with them.

This past Monday that dance advertised earlier in the Kuokoa was held, and the venue where the event took place was filled with the multitudes of Honolulu; perhaps they knew that this gathering would be the last they’d hear the singing of the performers of this group, and that is probably why Honolulu’s people thronged there and gave their aloha to the boys of the band.

In the picture above, you can see the boys who went, although some of them are currently with the Hawaiian Band in San Francisco and will meet up with their companions who left.

¹Play on the chorus of Kalakaua’s “E Nihi ka Hele.”
²Anyone know what mele this might come from?

[This is who played at that huge wedding celebration in Pauoa attended by Kaiulani in 1898 (the articles posted yesterday)]

(Nupepa Kuokoa, 9/22/1905, p. 1)

Ua Hala i'o Aku la Lakou

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XLIII, Helu 38, Aoao 1. Sepatemaba 22, 1905.

Kamehameha III, Kauikeaouli’s birthday, a little late. 1907.

Posted on by
3

Day of Remembrance

of the

King Kauikeaouli

This past 17th, Sunday, was the day of remembrance for all true Hawaiians, of the King Kauikeaouli, the Benevolent one. There are two different historical accounts of this day. Fornander states in his account that Kauikeaouli was born of Keopuolani on 11 August 1813, and that this information was from Emalia Keaweamahi, the wahine of Kaikioewa, the governor of Kauai. This date of A. Fornander is supported by Prof. Alexander in his “Brief History of the Hawaiian People.” However, in the account of Mr. James Jackson Jarves, a scholar of Hawaiian history who arrived here in Hawaii nei in 1837, Kauikeaouli was born on 17 March 1813. This historian arrived here but 24 years after the birth of Kauikeaouli, and it would seem that he obtained clear information about the true birth date of the Benevolent King, while he was living here. This statement by Jarves is supported by the reviving prayer that Kapihe offered for Kauikeaouli. Look below at line 11 [42?] in the “Pule a Kapihe.” Ikiiki is the month of March according to the reckoning of Oahu people, and according to Molokai people it is August.

Kauikeaouli was born at Ooma, Keauhou, in Kailua, in the moku of Kona. However, Prof. Alexander, in his history of Hawaii, says Kauikeaouli was born in Kailua.

The name Kauikeaouli is a name from his ancestors, that being the name of his grandfather, Keoua (Keaoua), the one called Kalanikupuapaikalaninui Kauikeaouli. This name puts on high the sacred kapu of Keoua–his chiefly kapu extends above and touches the great heavens, and rests upon the dark clouds. So therefore, the importance of the names Keaouli and Keaoua, is the dark, black, thick, esteemed cloud. This cloud is a rain cloud. A Orator of the old times said that the name Kauikeaouli is the bank of clouds that Kapihe, the prophet, saw spread high in the heavens when he was called to go to see if the child that Keopualani gave birth to was alive or not alive. He was not breathing and was totally lifeless. However, when this kahuna and prophet arrived to where the child was placed, he offered this prayer while waving a coconut frond in his hand. This is the prayer by which Kapihe made Kauikeaouli live, according to the story:

1 O ke Kukaikapaoa ka lani, ae alii,

2 He ‘lii haoa lani, haoa—a

3 He a ia m u lani ku makomako

4 He lani no Kahuku maka pali pohaku

5 He mau lani pohaku na Lono kaeho

6 No Lono ka la i poniia i ka wai niu

7 I haua i ka puaa hiwa

8 I ka puaa hiwa, puaa hiwa a Lono,

9 E Lono—e. Eia ko maka lani

10 Ko lau, ko mu’o, ko ao, ko liko

11 Ko alii kapu e Kahai-piilani

12 Ko maka Kuanahai ka malama

13 Malama ia ka lau kapu o Keaka

14 Ka lau oheohe o Keakamahana

15 I kupu a kapalulu, a kapalule

16 Ka pua, ka pua Ololo hemahema no Kaikilani

17 Nona ia lau ololo no Kanaloa

18 No ka ilio hulu panio, i poni ka maka

19 I noho ka eleele iloko o ka onohi

20 O ke kakau kioki onio i ka lae

21 O ke kioki o ke kikakapu

22 O ka i’a kapuhili au awahia

23 Awahia, awahia ia lani

24 Na Keaka wahine kea

25 Kupu mala o kea Keakealani

26 Ia laua haki ka haka o ke kapu

27 He haka i ka momona o na ‘lii nui

28 He mau alii ku moku, ai moku nui,

29 He nui hoi ka uhi, ka lawalu iwaho

30 He kai papa neenekona aina

31 He kai papa holo papa no Kahiki

32 I iki Keawe, ke kaupu kiau moku

33 Ka hua hookahi a ka A-o i ka lani

34 Na Kalani Ka’ani Kauleleiaiwi

35 Na Keawe, Keawe keia lani

36 Na kela eke hulu o Piilani

37 Lilo nei Keawe ia Piilani

38 Ahu kooka o na ‘lii

39 He mau alii ka ikena ‘ku

40 He mau lani haele wale iho no

41 Hele, hahi i ka lihilihi o ka La

42 I ka malama hanau i o Ikiiki—la

43 I ka malama hanau i o Ikiiki—la

—Mahele—

44 Ikiiki ka lani iluna

45 Ua uiha i ka malama

46 Ka pili o ho-ehu ka ua

47 Ke iloli nei ka honua

48 Naku ka mauna wai kali lia (waikaheia)

49 Ua kai lewa ia na aina

50 Ua lewa ka houpo o ka moku

51 O e au o Malela, o Kuala, o Kanaka ki o a moku

52 O ka u-u-ina i Wawau-e-aha-o

53 Ko Aupuni-la-nana-i-a

—Mahele—

54 Nana ia ae Holaniku

55 Kilohiia i kua o Wakea

56 I ke ake a Laukapalili

57 Me ke kalo o Laukapalala

58 He maka ia no Luaipo—e

59 O na ‘lii no ia o ka Nuupele

60 O I ko o maua ka Moo—

61 O ka hina kai o Haloa

62 Oia ia paha—e

63 Ke pahapaha la i ka makemakeia

64 A hiki mai ka ole hoi ana—e

[Amazingly, this is the only issue of this entire year that seems to have survived! If this newspaper could be reshot nicely, we could get a clear/clearer reading of this important mele!

And I put up the mele as is (although the image is not clear in some areas, so there are some questionable lines), so that words and phrases will be searchable on this blog or on google right now, instead of having to wait for some time in the future…]

(Kuokoa Home Rula, 3/22/1907, p. 4)

Ka La Hoomanao O KA Moi Kauikeaouli

Kuokoa Home Rula, Buke V, Helu 12, Aoao 4. Maraki 22, 1907.

More “Alika”! 1893.

Posted on by
1

ALIKA.

Aia i Alika o ka ihu o ka moku,

Ua hao a paihi ka pe’a i na kia

Ke liolio nei na kaula polena

Alualu ole iho i ka pa a ka makani

Ke kau ae nei ka ihu i Makao

Ke iho ae nei e komo i Alika

Ma ke kai melemele ke kowa o Berina

Nani wale ka ikena, na pua i Kalona

I noho i ka iu, ka piko i Himele

Ka hale pama hoomaka i ke kuia.

Aia i Alika o ka ihu o ka moku,

Nana i alakai kuhikuhi pololei

Ke ala pololei e ike ai oe

Ka loa o ka moana, ka piko o ka honua

Paa mai [?] o wakea, kaohi i ka mole

O ka mole o lehua, oa [?] o Kanaloa

A he hoa o you no ka la lealea

Enemi mai loko, pii e ka inaina

Ukiuki ae au, pa oe i ka newa

Ku i ke kuikui, i ka puupuu kahi.

Aia i Alika o ka ihu o ka moku,

Ua kau e ka hae o ka holo keia

Ke lili mai nei na holokahiki

Ua hiki ae nei ka lono i Ladana

Ka oi o Hawaii, ka ike noeau

Noonoo kaulike o you me a’u

Na’u i hookele ku i Bosetona

Lele na ohua na eepakele [eepakeke]

Ma kuu pakeke ka makana he aloha

Lihilihi daimana kapa o Kinikula.

Aia i Alika o ka ihu o ka moku,

Ke huli lua nei ke panana

Nana ia ae ka ohe latitu

I ike pono ia na mile i koe aku

E hiki aku ai i Poka Ailana

Ua lana ka manao a huli hoi aku

Inu i ka wai lohi o loko o Halehai

Haihai olelo aoao me ke hoa

Hoa o ka naika ke ano ahiahi

Holoholo mahina i ka huikaulua.

[It is interesting how this might be divided into 4 stanzas of 10 lines, each beginning with “Aia i Alika o ka ihu o ka moku”. I wonder if it was sung differently than today. The Hawaiian-Language Newspapers are filled with mele: those we are familiar with today (often full of variations), as well at those that have been lost (temporarily) over time!]

(Lei Momi, 7/1/1893, p. 4)

ALIKA

Ka Lei Momi, Buke I, Helu 9, Aoao 4. Iulai 1, 1893.

“Alika” variant, 1898.

Posted on by
1

ALIKA SONG.

1st

Ma ke kai Melemele

Ke kowa a o Berina

O ka hale lau Pama

A o make i ke kula.

Hui: Aia i Alika

E ka ihu o ka moku

Ua hao a paihi

Na pe’a i ka makani

Ke liuliu nei

Na kaula likini

Alualu ole iho

Ka pe’a i ka makani.

2nd

A oi kau aku

Ka newa i ko piko

Kaa e ka huila

Niniu i ka makani.

[Here is a variant of a mele still popular to this day! I wonder if it was sung to the same tune as we hear it sung now…]

(Loea Kalaiaina, 1/31/1898, p. 1)

ALIKA SONG

Ka Loea Kalaiaina, Buke II, Helu 5, Aoao 1. Ianuari 31, 1898.

Election season, 1912.

Posted on by
Reply

LINEKONA THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE WELL-BEING OF HAWAII.

Lincoln is the Morning Star,
The shining lantern,
Appointed by you, O Heavenly Powers,
Assisted by the Trinity.

Rise, O people of Hawaii,
The descendants of the I and the Mahi,
One in heart until victorious,
From Hawaii to Niihau.

Heard across the Islands,
Here is the one who will save the Lahui,
The eagle* will make right,
The Equal Rights of the land.

Let the story be told,
Lincoln the Representative for the Well-Being of Hawaii.

Composed by

George Kelii,

Honolulu, February 29, 1912.

*The eagle is used to represent the United States.

[Back in the day, there were many mele composed to support candidates. This one is for Lincoln Loy McCandless, who is famous for drilling for water here, and thus is also known as Likana or Linekona Eliwai (water driller). He will also be seen referred to as Lina (from Link).]

(Aloha Aina, 3/2/1912, p. 1)

LINEKONA KA ELELE OLA HAWAII.

Ke Aloha Aina, Buke XVI, Helu 9, Aoao 1. Maraki 2, 1912.

More Hawaiians playing music afar, 1908.

Posted on by
5

This is a Singing Group of Hawaiian Youths in Boston.

The ones standing–Fred W. Kahea, James Pekelo. Those sitting–David Kaai Kaleikau [Kaleikoa], Madame Anehila [Hobron], Lui Thompson Keouli, Monsieur [William] Holoua

[Plus check out this awesome brochure from the same time put up by the University of Iowa! The Honolulu Students from the Hawaiian Islands. Sometimes the internet is such a good thing!]

(Kuokoa 2/7/1908, p. 6)

Kekahi Hui Himeni Keia o na Keiki Hawaii ma Bosetona.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XLIII, Helu 6, Aoao 6. Feberuari 7, 1908.

More music—Ernest Kaai, 1906.

Posted on by
1

ERNEST KAAI LEFT ON HIS MUSICAL TOUR OF KAUAI.

Last evening, Professor Ernest Kaai of the town of Honolulu nei left for the island of Kauai along with his fellow musicians to hold concerts in the places where they will visit, and they will not be left without being welcomed by the people of Kauai.

Travelling along with him are Mrs. Nane [Nani] Alapai, the singer of the Royal Hawaiian Band; Miss Keala; Mr. Holokahiki; and John Noble, Jr., a youth skilled on the flute [hoopiopio?]. They number five in total, and they are members of that band that is moving quickly through the places they visit.

After arriving on Kauai, Lihue is the first port where they stop, and it is there that they will hold their first concert tomorrow. After that, their tour will go all the way to Koloa where they will have a concert on the coming Monday, the 6th.

Then their musical tour will move on to Eleele, where they will have a musical assembly on the next Tuesday, the 7th. From there they will arrive at Waimea, and they will open another concert on Tuesday [Wednesday] the 8th. And then onto Makaweli where they will have another concert on the next day, the 9th.

Ernest Kaai and his band mates will spend a number of days on Kauai, and when they reach Makaweli, and hold a concert there on the day shown, it is then that they will know where their tour will move to next.

On this tour, Professor Kaai has time to give benefit concerts for good causes if it will be beneficial, but this all depends on the scheduling.

Mr. Kaai is a young Hawaiian that is well known in this town among the Hawaiians and among the haole that love playing music, for the regular job of that young man is teaching music. There are many haole women and haole men and Hawaiians as well who were taught by him and graduated in music.

[If this post looks familiar to some of you, it is because I posted it some time ago on the old Hoolaupai Facebook page. I found that it is not easy to find anything on that page, so started the blog at http://nupepa-hawaii.com, where it is a whole lot easier to find posts! So I will be on occasion reposting articles so that they will be findable in one location. They will all be under the category “Repost”.]

(Kuokoa, 8/3/1906, p. 8)

UA HALA AKU O ERNEST KAAI I KE KAAHELE HIMENI NO KAUAI.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XLV, Helu 31, Aoao 8. Augate 3, 1906.

Honolulu Glee Club, 1911.

Posted on by
Reply

THE SINGING GROUP, “HONOLULU GLEE CLUB” OF THE HAWAIIAN BOYS.

Led by Ah Choy Tim Sin.

Front row—R. K. Kumulala [Kumululu? Kumuliilii?], D. W. Waipa, Ah Choy Tim Sin, R. M. Kamaunu, F. W. Keao. Back row—S. Kanekoa, J. Kahikina.

This Singing Group will arrive in the districts of North Kohala, South Kohala, Hamakua, Hilo, and Puna, should they not meet with any troubles on their road. This group is under the direction of Ah Choy, a skilled youth [line hidden by fold].

[Line hidden by fold?] with the melodic flute, and included in this group is the skilled hands of Mr. Waipa, the prince of Kona and Kohala.

Therefore, rise, O Friends, join hands with the sweet beloved of Kohala and sing along to this song of aloha for his birth land:

“Maikai ka makani o Kohala,
I pa ia e ka Inuwai,
Ka wai no ia pono kaua,
Ka wai kaulana o ka aina,
He aloha, he aloha ka’u mea nui,
He makana, he makana na ka puuwai.”

Please fill their singing audience; they will arrive in North Kohala on August 5, 1911.

[This is one of many pages of the Hawaiian-Language Newspapers that are difficult to read because the image originally taken was not clean. These need to be reshot before it is too late. You can’t get much information from something that is illegible.]

(Kuokoa Home Rula, 7/28/1911, p. 1)

KA PUALI HIMENI "HONOLULU GLEE CLUB" O NA KEIKI HAWAII

Kuokoa Home Rula, Buke IX, Helu 30, Aoao 1. Iulai 28, 1911.

[Here is the same image found in the Evening Bulletin. Perhaps this is not such a great image, but it is way better than the one from Kuokoa Home Rula! And yet, the information given pales to what is found in the Hawaiian article…]

MEMBERS OF HONOLULU GLEE CLUB

Evening Bulletin, Number 4993, Page 8. August 1, 1911.

“Kaua i ka Nani o Hilo”. 1892.

Posted on by
Reply

A MELE FOR HULA.

Kaua i ka nani o Hilo
Ka ua loloku i Hanakahi
A kahi hoi ko’u manene,
Ka meeu hoi o kou hoa.
He ula leo paha na ka iwi,
I kuwa mai la i Haili,
Ilihia i ka leo o ka mamo,
E pua mai la i Olaa.
Ua laa ia pua ia nei,
U nani i ko’u manao,
E ake aku ana e ike.
I na pua lehua i panaewa,
E kiko ia ala e ka manu
E ka oo, hulu melemele.
Nee iho e kaua lani pili,
Hao mai ka makani a he kiu.

Composed by Kolana.

[Here is another version of “Kaua i ka Nani o Hilo”, and here it is attributed to Kolana.]

(Leo o ka Lahui, 7/18/1892)

HE MELE HULA.

Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Buke II, Helu 501, Aoao 2. Iulai 18, 1892.