Are you excited about this year’s candidates? 2020.

…Enough to compose a mele for them?

Check out this mele composed by Sam Liʻa for Prince Kuhio!

Political mele by Samuel Lia Kalainaina for Prince Kuhio, 1916.

HE HOOHENO LEI NO KALANIANAOLE.

1

E ho mai i na pua nani o ka wao,
Wehi lei no Kalanianaole,
Elele i Wakinekona.
E kui mai no a lawa,
Hiiia mai no Kalani.

2

E Hawaii Mano o Kalanipo,
Kui mai i lei no ke Alii,
Elele i Wakinekona.
Ohu lei mokihana,
Kau papahi lei nona.

3

E Niihau e, e o mai oe,
O kau lei no Kalanianaole,
Elele i Wakinekona.
I wehi lei rube,
I pulu-pe i ka hunakai.

4

E Oahu i ke kaona nui,
Ho mai i lei no ke Alii,
Ka Elele i Wakinekona.
I wehi lei carnation,
I wiliia me ka ilima.

5

E o e Molokai nui a Hina,
O kau lei no Kalanianaole,
Ka Elele i Wakinekona.
I wehi lei kukui,
Kau ohu ia no Kalani.

6

Eaha ana hoi oe e Lanai,
E wiki, i ohu no ke Alii,
Ka Elele i Wakinekona.
I lei pua hinahina,
I pulupe i ka hunakai.

7

E Maui i ka Honoapiilani,
O kau lei hoi no ke Alii,
Ka Elele i Wakinekona.
I wehi lei roselani,
Moani aala i ka poli.

8

E Hawaii nui Moku o Keawe,
Kui ae i wehi no ke Alii,
Ka Elele i Wakinekona.
I na lehua o Panaewa,
I wiliia me ka maile.

9

Hainaia mai ana ka puana,
Na wehi lei o Kalanianaole,
Ka Elele i Wakinekona.
Kii mai no e lei,
I ohu nou e Kalani.

Hakuia e ka HENE WAI O HIILAWE.

By Samuel L. Kalainaina.

[A Lei of Affection for Kalanianaole.

1 Bring forth the beautiful flowers of the forests,
A lei to adorn Kalanianaole,
Representative to Washington.
String them and bind fast,
To be carried for the Heavenly One.

2 O Hawaii of Manokalanipo,
String a lei for the Alii,
Representative to Washington.
An adornment of mokihana lei
Your lei to honor him.

3 O Niihau, answer,
Your lei for Kalanianaole,
Representative to Washington.
An adornment of rubies,
Drenched by the sea spray.

4 O Oahu of the great town,
Bring forth a lei for the Alii,
Representative to Washington.
An adornment of carnation lei,
Entwined with ilima.

5 Answer, O Great Molokai of Hina,
Your lei for Kalanianaole,
Representative to Washington.
An decoration of kukui lei,
Your adornment for the Heavenly One.

6 What are you doing, O Lanai,
Be quick, for an adornment for the Alii,
Representative to Washington.
A hinahina blossom lei,
Drenched by the sea spray.

7 O Maui with the bays of Piilani,
Your lei for the Alii,
Representative to Washington.
An adornment of roselani lei,
Fragrantly wafting in the bosom.

8 O Great Hawaii, Island of Keawe,
String an adornment for the Alii,
Representative to Washinton.
The lehua of Panaewa,
Entwined with maile.

9 Let the story be told,
Kalanianaole’s lei of adornment,
Representative to Washington.
Come take and wear these lei,
As an adornment for you, O Kalani.

Composed by ka HENE WAI O HIILAWE.

By Samuel L. Kalainaina.

I was reminded of this mele after watching the video documentary “Liʻa” by Eddie Kamae.

I just got my ballot in the mail the other day. I hope you are voting too. There is a lot at stake…]

(Kuokoa, 11/10/1916, p. 3)

HE HOOHENO LEI NO KALANIANAOLE.

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Punishment by God? 1893.

REGRETTABLE.

We received this letter below, and we were filled with pity for this tragedy encountered by our fellow man, and this is that letter:

“Hana, June 16, 1893.

“Aloha to you, O Fearless Holomua;

“Here is some news from here in the country.

“On the 31st of May, the home of J. K. Iosepa was consumed by fire; destroyed were the belongings inside of the house, the furnishings, the bed and other things, and the walls were burned, but the house remained standing as if it is made ready.

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