MELE LĀHUI
December 31, 2013
On Friday, April 26, 2013, at noon, Hawai‘i Council for the Humanities and Royal Hawaiian Band presented Mele Lāhui Performed by the Royal Hawaiian Band on the grounds of ‘Iolani Palace.
The Mele Lāhui (National Songs) concert used music compositions to tell the story of nationalism from the deposed Queen Lili‘uokalani’s and from the Hawaiian people’s points of view. Guest presenters, Puakea Nogelmeier, professor of Hawaiian Language, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, and Hawai‘i Council for the Humanities Board Director; Aaron Mahi, Hawaiian classical music expert; and Martha Noyes, writer, joined the Royal Hawaiian Band to introduce the program’s songs.
This program was inspired by an essay entitled “We Will Eat Stones,” by Martha Noyes, published in the Hawai‘i Council for the Humanities’ anthology, We Go Jam: Celebrating Our Music, Our Soundscape, Our Hawai‘i. Noyes’ essay narrates the creation of the song “Mele ‘Ai Pōhaku (We Will Eat Stones)” arranged in 1893 when members of the Royal Hawaiian Band refused to sign an oath of loyalty to the newly established Republic of Hawai‘i after Queen Lili‘uokalani was overthrown. Because of the story’s reference to the Band, the Hawai‘i Council for the Humanities sought to expand the themes into a program with the Royal Hawaiian Band.
Concert Program
Pū Kani and Oli
Hawai‘i Pono‘ī
King Kalākaua and Henry Berger
Puakea Nogelmeier, Guest Presenter
Ke Aloha O Ka Haku
Queen Lili‘uokalani / arranged by Lloyd Krause, featuring Malia Ka‘ai, vocalist
Ku‘u Pua I Paoakalani
Queen Lili‘uokalani / arranged by Jack de Mello, featuring Nina Keali‘iwahamana, vocalist, and Pi‘ilaniwahine Smith, dancer
Aaron Mahi, Guest Presenter
Nā Ali‘i
Samuel Kuahiwi / arranged by Harris Ichida, featuring Royal Hawaiian Band Glee Club and Aaron Mahi
Ka Na‘i Aupuni
Traditional / arranged by Steven Agasa, featuring Aaron Mahi, vocalist
Martha Noyes, Guest Presenter
Mele ‘Ai Pōhaku
Ellen Prendergast / arranged by Dale Senaga, featuring Misty Kela‘i, vocalist, and Pi‘ilaniwahine Smith, dancer
Aloha ‘Oe
Queen Lili‘uokalani / arranged by Bill Wiley
A special booklet was produced containing essays about the pieces, written by the speakers, along with song lyrics and translations, and historical images.
Copyright © 2013 by Hawai‘i Council for the Humanities. All rights reserved. Any use of the material, including reproduction in whole or in part requires permission in writing.
Bibliography
Hawai‘i State Archives, Photograph Collection.
Hui Hānai. The Queen’s Songbook. Honolulu: Hui Hānai, 1999. Print.
Nordyke, Eleanor C., and Martha H. Noyes. “Kaulana Nā Pua: A Voice for Sovereignty.” Hawaiian Journal of History 27 (1993): 27-42.
Testo, Francisco Jose, ed. Buke Mele Lahui. Honolulu: Paiia ma ka Halepai Makaainana, 1895.
Wilcox, Carol, Vicky Hollinger, Kimo Hussey, and Puakea Nogelmeier. He Mele Aloha: A Hawaiian Songbook. 2008. Honolulu: ‘Oli ‘Oli Productions, L.L.C., 2003. Print.