Beginnings of Royal Mausoleum at Mauna Ala, 1865.

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Royal Mausoleum.—We have heard that an agreement has been reached between the Minister of  the Interior and  T. C. Heuck, Esq., to commence once again, during these days, the work on the Royal Mausoleum at Mauna Ala in Nuuanu. The stones are ready, and everything is prepared for the building to be built, and hereafter all the native born will be pleased to see this grand memorial building where the parents of the populace who have left the light of the world lay to rest.

(Au Okoa, 4/24/1865, p. 2)

Ka Ilina Alii.

Ke Au Okoa, Buke I, Helu 1, Aoao 2. Aperila 24, 1865.

Ninipo Hoonipo Song, a follow up, 1999.

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There was a question by MA Kaiulani Milham about a translation of an earlier post about the mele “Ninipo Hoonipo Song,” by Queen Liliuokalani. There is a very nice book of many of the Queen’s songs put out by Hui Hanai in 1999, “The Queen’s Songbook.” The lyrics are in there along with the music, a translation, and a short writeup!

Repost: Monday, April 8th Pa‘ahao Book Drive at UH from 3-5 PM

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Monday, April 8th Pa‘ahao Book Drive at UH from 3-5 PM

Posted on March 25, 2013

Several years ago, community activist Andre Perez, raised funds to send 300 books on Hawaiian culture to Saguaro prison. Since these books were not officially catalogued in Saguaro’s library, the administration considered them contraband and BURNED THESE BRAND NEW BOOKS.

Andre is now working with PSD and other entities to raise funds to buy books on Hawaiian culture that will be part of the official Saguaro library.

Please support!
Here for Flyer

paahao flyer for 4.8.13UH event

Monday, April 8th Pa‘ahao Book Drive at UH from 3-5 PM.

Awesome follow up to Princess Kaiulani funerary buttons, 2013.

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Last month, we posted articles about buttons produced for the funeral of Princess Kaiulani. JR kindly responded with an image of an example of one of these buttons! Here is the image sent, with the description: 3 15/16″ in diameter. Printed on the backside: “pin lock, patd. May 31, 98”

For the previous posts, click here:

Mourning of Princess Kaiulani, 1899.

and

More on Kaiulani buttons, 1899.

Kaiulani button

Kaiulani funerary button

A mele by Her Majesty Queen Liliuokalani, 1894.

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NINIPO HOONIPO SONG.

1.

Hiaai, hiaai i ka nani la
O a’u Lehua i Hopoe la
Ke ona ia mai la e ka Iwi la
E ka manu hulu weo Olaa

——: Hui :——

Ninipo Hoonipo i ke aloha la
Ka wahine haa le-a a lewa i ke kai
Ka niniau ala i ke one la
I ke kai nupanupa i Haena

2.

Lou iki Panaewa i ka hala la
I ka lihi ka pilina a Moeawakea
Ke nihi ae la ka ua nihi makai la
O ka welelau noe kai io’u nei.

3.

Ike maka i ka nani o Puna la
Na lae uluhala o Kookoolau
Ke oni ae la molale i ke kai la
Na oho lau maewa luhe i ka wai.

4.

I Hilo no ka makani Puulena la
Lohe i ka ale a ke kai holuholu o Huia
Ua mau aku la o luna o Maukele la
I ka pakalikali a ka Malanai.

Composed by H. M. Q. L.

[The newspaper “Ka Oiaio” begins in 1889, but there are only a few issues found for that year, and for 1890, 1891, 1892, and 1893, there are none! Hopefully someone is holding on to copies of these years, because they can open up a whole new picture to that period in history!!

Talk about the Hawaiian-Language Newspapers to others. The more people talk, the more likely it will be that these lost issues might once again be found.]

(Oiaio, 8/10/1894, p. 4)

NINIPO HOONIPO SONG.

Ka Oiaio, Buke VI, Helu 32, Aoao 4. Augate 10, 1894.

Beginning of line-by-line commentary of “Aia i Honolulu kuu pohaku,” 1929.

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EXPLANATION OF THE FIRST LINE.

1. Aia i Honolulu kuu pohaku

Kapanookalani’s thoughts:—This land Honolulu, it is close to Nanawale, Puna, by the sea. It is a ku, a small land in between large lands.

The stone [pohaku] is Lord [Haku] of the chiefess and in this word, the important idea is chiefess [‘lii wahine].

Kahapula’s thoughts:—Honolulu is on Oahu, where King Kamehameha V dwelt and those who opposed him is the Honolulu in this first line of the mele. It was here his enemies schemed and carried out all their defiant acts against him. While they knew the wish of the King to marry the chiefess Pauahi, her teacher, Amos Cooke secretly agreed to  Bishop for him to meet with Pauahi without the knowledge of her parents. That is how Pauahi became Bishop’s, and this is how Bishop and his relative Lee [? William Little Lee] became dignitaries of the land.

Kupihea’s thoughts:—Honolulu is a fish stone called a Kuula, and was brought here to this Honolulu [on Oahu] from the Honolulu of Puna [on Hawaii]. This Kuula was placed in the tiny land of Honolulu where an Alii called Honolulu lived, who was related to the chiefess Peleula, whose younger sister was the beautiful Waikiki. This place is mauka of the old Rawlin’s Estate. There is a bank of coral where Honolulu is; the fishing altar [Kuula] for the fish ponds [loko i’a] is on the Waikiki side of Liliha Street and between Vineyard and King Streets.

The stone is related to chiefs from times immemorial [mai ka po mai]. It is a manifestation made by God.

Iokepa’s thoughts:—Honolulu is a small land and a canoe landing makai of Nanawale, Puna, between two sand dunes, one on the Hilo side and one on the Puna side, called Puu Waawaa. From this Honolulu is called the Honolulu here [on Oahu] which used to be called Kou before, and after it was called Honolulu until this day.

This is the meaning for the word Honolulu:—The wind is very calm [lulu] an the sea is serene; it is very fine and peaceful. Bay [? Hono] of calm sea; Hono that is peaceful.

Kuluwaimaka’s thoughts:—The stone is related to Kamehameha V. Honolulu in Puna is a lowland next to the sea. Its width is perhaps half a mile long between Na Puu o Pele and Waiakahiula on the Hilo side. Honolulu is a place where you pick opihi [ku’i opihi] and pick limu [hana limu]. There is a fine spring [punawai] there and there is a foot path there.

[And to think that this is but the very beginning of Kelsey’s detailed account of the explanation of the six loea of the mele “Aia i Honolulu kuu pohaku.” This is just the first line! It continues in the following issues!!

One more (huge) reason that Hawaiian-Language Newspapers are priceless!!!]

(Alakai o Hawaii, 12/5/1929, p. 2)

NA MANAO WEHEWEHE MALUNA O KA LAINA EKAHI.

Ke Alakai o Hawaii, Buke 1, Helu 32, Aoao 2. Dekemapa 5, 1929.

More on “Aia i Honolulu kuu pohaku”! 1929.

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A MELE FOR KAMEHAMEHA V.

O Friends who chase after Ke Alakai o Hawaii, the mele, “Aia i Honolulu kuu pohaku,” is a mele of familiarity [mele hoolauna] composed by Luka Keelikolani when she was coming to here in Honolulu from Hilo to meet with King Kamehameha V.

From what is understood, it is believed that she composed this mele while she was in Hilo before her travelling to Oahu nei.

In this mele are hidden things dealing with the nation in the time of the alii Loka Kapuaiwa Kamakaiouli (Kamehameha V); the contention between the haole and the King, the deceit of the enemies of the King and their attempt to thwart the plans by the King and his court to make Pauahi his wife.

The Hale Hoonaauao Hawaii asks the native ones of the land, the old ones familiar with the history of King Kamehameha V, and the experts still living, to read with much pleasure the explanations of this mele as per what was obtained by the Hale Hoonaauao Hawaii from those native born of the land through the assistance of Theodore Kelsey.

The Hale Hoonaauao Hawaii will award a one-year subscription of the newspaper Ke Alakai o Hawaii to the one who sends the best letter with explanations on this mele. Send the letters to the office of Ke Alakai o Hawaii withing two weeks of the completion of the publishing of all that has been compiled.

Here is the mele and the explanations of the experts [loea] whose names are: Paulo Kealaikahiki Kapanookalani from whom we received this mele, Kahapula (Prof. Fred Beckley) who teaches at the University of Hawaii, Kawika Malo Kupihea who studied with the loea J. M. Poepoe for fifteen years. James Anania Iokepa who was born in Honomu, Hawaii, Rev. H. B. Nalimu who was born in Papaaloa, Hawaii in 1835, and J. P. Kuluwaimaka the skilled chanter [olohe oli] in the court of King Kalakaua.

[“Aia i Honolulu kuu pohaku” is perhaps the most widely studied mele i have seen, with line-by-line interpretations by experts of the day. It continues on for a number of issues of Alakai o Hawaii.

Does anyone have any details on the organization called Hale Hoonaauao Hawaii, or Hale Hoonaauao o Hawaii?]

(Alakai o Hawaii, 12/5/1929, p. 2)

HE MELE NO KAMEHAMEHA V.

Ke Alakai o Hawaii, Buke 1, Helu 32, Aoao 2. Dekemapa 5, 1929.

“Aia i Honolulu kuu pohaku,” name song for Kamehameha V., 1929.

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AIA I HONOLULU KUU POHAKU.

1. Aia i Honolulu kuu pohaku

2. O Kealohilani kuu haku ia

3. Ua holo ka wela i na mokupuni

4. Ua puni hei au leo o ka manu

5. O a’u lehua i Mokaulele

6. Hooneenee mai e ka iliahi

7. Hoohanua mai la ka ua iuka

8. Aia ka pono ia Oniula

10. Ua malu ka honua ia Kalani

11. Kuu Haku i ka ehuehu kai olalo

12. I ahona Puna i ke ala o ka hala

13. Paa mai la Olaa i ka ua noe

14. Noho i ka ehuehu kai o Hilo

15. Kahiko Poliahu i ka hau anu

16. He manao paa ko’u a hiki aku

17. Ua lahui ia mai e iala

18. Hea aku no wau o mai oe

19. O Kamakaiouli kou inoa.

(Alakai o Hawaii, 12/5/1929, p. 2)

AIA I HONOLULU KUU POHAKU.
Ke Alakai o Hawaii, Buke 1, Helu 32, Aoao 2. Dekemapa 5, 1929.

Kaulilua… Mele inoa for Kamehameha IV, 1864.

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[Excerpt found under: “A DIRGE FOR KING Alexander Kalanikualiholiho, Maka o Iouli, Kunuiakea o Kukailimoku, KAMEHAMEHA IV!”]

O Kaulilua i ke anu Waialeale e—a!
He maka halalo i ka lehua makanoe,
He lihilihi kuku ia no Aipo,
O ka huluaa ia o Hauailiki,
Ua pehia e ka ua a eha ka nahele,
Maui eha ka pua uwe i ke anu,
I ke kukula lehua wai o Mokiha—na—ea,
Ua hana ia’ku ka pono a ua pololei,
Ua hai ia’ku no ia oe,
O ke ola no ia o kiai loko e—a.
Kiai kaula nana i ka makani—e—a,
Hoolana o ka halulu a ka malua,
Kiei halo i Makaikiolea,
Ka mau ka ea i Kahalauaola,
O ke kula lima ia o Wawae noho,
Me he pukoa hakahaka la i Waahia,
Ka momoku a ka Unulau o Lehua e—a!
A lehulehu ka hale pono ka noho ana,
Loaa kou haawina e ke aloha,
Ke hauna mai nei ka puka o ka hale e—a;

[So many interesting things about this. The first and foremost perhaps is that this appears as part of an unusual kanikau for Alexander Liholiho Kamehameha IV in the form of a conversation between Kamehameha III (K III.) and himself (K IV.). Another is that if you hula, you probably learned this as a mele inoa for Kalakaua and not as one for Kamehameha IV. Does anyone know who it is that is labeled as (M.) in the conversation? Click here for a PDF of the issue with the rest of the piece on page 4.]

(Kuokoa, 1/23/1864, p. 4)

O Kaulilua i ke anu Waialeale e—a!

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke III, Helu 4, Aoao 4. Ianuari 23, 1864.