Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 18, Number 4, 1 April 2001 — KWO PhotoOp [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

KWO PhotoOp

£ £ f~~1ongs for the Soul: Nū Mele Kanikau Aloha, 1820-1900 " was ^ prcsented by Rubellite Kawena Johnson, researcher and projkJ ect director, highlighting songs of lamentation, published in Hawaiian language newspapers throughout the 19th century. AIso presenting at the March 22 forum were Noelani Arista. Kimo Alama Keaulana, John Mahelona and Earl Pā Mai Tenn who, along with Johnson, served as researchers and translators. A highlight of the presentalion was ''Mele a Ka'ehu, ka Haku Mele ," recorded by chanter extraordinaire Ka'upena Wong. The pieee was composed bv Ka'ehu, a Kaua'i hula master and a vietim of "ma'i lepela" (Hansen's desease) who asks, "What will lcprosy do to my people? What will become of our land?" Keaulana explained that mele kanikau references to the afterlife are sometimes quite different from the Christian perspective where, by way of literary excellence, the ordinary become extraordinary." One lament, for Aniani, the fisherman, suggests that the deceased had gone to be with a number of female deities. The composer appeals to Waka, grandmother of Lā'ieikawai, saying. "E uku au iā 'oe i miliona kālā (I will pay you a million dollars) if you return my beloved to me." "100 years of mele kanikau give us a dimension of Hawaiian studies we haven't had before." said Johnson. "Composers of the.se kanikau were very adept in language; knew their environment and history; and were very sensitive to human relationships and aloha," she said. ■

; '■■■;/:: ■> . - John Mohelona, Kimo Alama Keaulana and Pō Mai Tenn look on as Kawena Johnson explains the significance and profundity of mele kanikau fo a standing (oom-only crowd at the Kana'ina Buiiding at 'loiani Palaee March 22. The forum was sponsored by the Hawaiian Historical Society, and the project. by the University of Hawai'i Committee for the Preservotion and Study of Hawaiian l_anguage. Art and Cutture. Photo by Manu Boyd