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Published: July 17th 2006
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As mentioned in a previous entry, the Hawaiian Language will rarely be heard spoken on the Streets of Honolulu, or even the outlying areas anymore. For over a 100 years, a concerted effort was made to stop it from being spoken and taught in schools. However, strangely enough the language did remain alive in it's songs and music which remained proliferate for many years. And Hawaiian Language Immersion Schools sprung up during the 1990's to the present to try and revive the language among the younger generations of Native Hawaiians or "Kanaka Maoli". How successful they are in doing so, I'm not sure.
For many years, common Hawaiian Place and historic names, were written without the "Okina", a sort of backward Apostrohe, to show that there should be a gutteral pause in certain words. For example Oahu should be pronounced as O'ahu, Lanai-Lana'i, Kauai-Kaua'i and Hawai'i. Placing the Okina in the right location in a word, is important in determining the pronunciation. However for the rest of this entry, I won't be inserting the Okina, less I make a mistake as to it's proper location.
Regarding Hawaiian Language and Music, I must admit I am far from being an
expert or even fairly knowledgable about the subject, but I just want to share what little I know. I love Hawaiian music and have my car radio set to a station called KINE-FM which seems to play the type of Hawaiian music I like best, which may be categorized as Comtemporary. It's often sung in the Hawaiian Language, in a sweet tone of voice, the guitars and ukuleles are arpeggiated and sometimes, modern western instruments are used, such as violins, keyboards, etc.
So as you may gather, Hawaiian Music is not just one type of music, but several. If one goes back to Pre-Western contact, the music were mostly in a Chant to the accompaniment of a large hollow gourd or a drum and was quite monotonous in tone. I'd imagine the words would have held a more important part in the song, as it usually told a story of an event or topic of interest. I even heard that some chants recounts stories of trips of the Kanaka Maoli from their Islands of origin, near Tahiti to Hawaii, hundreds of years ago. The dances to the Chants differ very much from what the tourists see in Hawaii today.
The movements are jerkier and powerful rather than the graceful movements one see today, and may even resemble martial arts movements, to some.
During the 50' and 60's, most Hawaiian music seemed to be played in a coined phrased called the "Chang-a-lang" style, in which guitars and Ukuleles, were strummed in a pretty much common beat in all songs. Songs were sung sometimes in falsetto even by men who could look like construction workers or in rather rustic voices. This style still is perfer by many, as indicated by the winning of Awards at the Na Hoku Hanohano (Local Grammies) by many musicians of this style. It's not really the type of singing I perfer though. As mention earlier, I perfer what is called the contemporary, a word perhaps coined by the more traditionalist "Chang-a-lang" artists, in a not too complimentary tone.
Another well liked Local Music is the Jawaiian or Reggae music, normally sung in English rather than Hawaiian. This style is popular among the younger set or middle age and usually warrants a station all of their own. In a recent article, it was said that Hawaii produced CD's numbered close to 200 last year, which
Mural-Ancient Hawaii.
Located outside of Manoa Library. includes the 3 styles previously mentioned, plus others.
Going back to Hawaiian Music and Language; it seems that certain Hawaiian words will stand out more than others, especially those that are repeated twice. Such words are: Onaona=fragrant, Hiwahiwa=cherished or beloved, Ahiahi=evening, Noenoe=mist, Hanohano=glorious, Nahenahe=soft, gentle, Ohuohu=adorned, Lehulehu=people or crowd, Hawanawana=whispering, Honehone=softly, Makemake=care about, desired, Milimili=cherished, beloved, Kilakila=majestic and Na KauaKau=forever.
Someone once told me that Hawaiian Composers use lots of allegories in their songs, so many times the songs may not be what it appears to be about. For example the song "Kaulana Na Pua" or Famous are the Flowers, is not about flowers, but a political protest song, in which Pua or Flowers, really meant "the People". In Sanoe, "The Mist", the mist is really about the "will" of the people, a song written by Queen Liliuokalani, with strong political overtones.
In using a song book with translations for all the songs in it, I did some research regarding the meaning or literal translations of my favorites songs, and it seems to break down as follows: Songs about places-45%, Love songs-20%, Songs of Flowers or Leis-15%, Political or Songs of Native Pride-5%, songs about various things
UH Lab School Fire.
As seen from my building. (i.e.-shells, Ocean Liners, fish, seaweed, shrimp, limpets, etc.-10% and miscellaneous 5%.
With this in mind, here are some common words, you may hear in some of the more popular songs: Ka Makani-wind, Aloha-beloved, love, Puuwai-heart, Hookipa-welcome, hospitality, Haaheo-pride, Kaulana-famous, Kuu-my, Mana'o-thoughts, Hoaloha-friend, Uka-uplands, Olelo-speak, Moani-fragrance, Hone-sweet, Uluwehi-beautiful, Wailele-waterfalls, Mele-song, sing, Kuahiwi-peak, Pumehana-affection, Makamae-precious, Halia-remembrance, Malino-calm, Nohea-beautiful, Aupuni-nation, Makua-parents, Kupuna-ancestors, grandparents, Honi-kiss, Papahe'e-surf, Malama-take care, Maoli-true, Lahui-nation, Nalu-surf. Kulaiwi-homeland, Mahina-moon, Nahele-forest, Aole-no, Hiki No-fine, ok, Kokua-help, Pane Mai-answer, Kala-money, Pohaku-stones, Ai-food, eat, Poina Ole-unforgettable, Eo Mai-answer, Inoa-name, Kula-gold, plains, Wekiu-highlands, Malie-tranquility, Oe-you, Maika'i-fine, good, Hauoli-happy, Huli-turn, La-sun, Kuu Ipo-My love.
Tourists who visit Hawaii, will have lots of opportunities to hear Hawaiian music, as they are played in many shops, restraunts, nightclubs, bars, lounge, etc. One can enjoy the music or songs without knowing it's meaning, which I have for many years, but I think having an idea what the songs are about, can bring added pleasure.
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