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Premiered by Julia Tonai, soprano & Hannah Yi, piano on October 25, 2024
I always wanted to reflect on where I’m from and incorporate music into it. Enter mele. Mele, Hawaiian chants, are an important part of the culture. I remember when I was in elementary school, our teachers taught us many of these mele. Some mele you sing, others you chant.They describe all sorts of ideas: everything from ones that introduce which Ahupua`a, the subdivision of land you reign from, to ones that tell the tales of Hawaiian mythology. This mele, in particular, was made in honor of the high chief, Kapuke`i, the grandfather of the original writer of the text.
Mahalo nui loa to Kīhei de Silva for granting permission to use his English translation.
Thomas Yamada
September 27, 2024
Original Hawaiian Text: (Joseph `Īlālā`ole) English Translation: (Kīhei de Silva)
A luna au o ‘Āhia, aha! I was all the way up at ‘Āhia,
Ha‘a ana ka lehua i ka wai Where the lehua bends low into the water.
E inu i ka māpunapuna, aha! Let us drink from the bubbling spring,
E māpu mai ana ke ‘ala The fragrance pouring sweetly forth.
Ke ‘ala o ka lau hinahina, aha! The perfume of hinahina leaves,
(E) hina iki a‘e nō kāu Let us "tumble" a little.
Ka lawena a ke hoa akamai, aha! The gentle movements of the skilled companion,
Niniu poahi ka nahele The forest spins dizzily.
(E) hele nō ‘oe a mana‘o, aha! You are now convinced,
Eia i ‘ane‘i ko aloha That the one you love is right here.
He aloha ke kumu i hui ai, aha! Love is the cause of our union,
(E) ‘ike ‘ia nā pali Ko‘olau Known are the Ko‘olau cliffs.
Ha‘ina ‘ia mai ka puana, aha! This ends the song,
Ha‘a ana ka lehua i ka wai Of the lehua bending low into the water.