He Momi e Lei ai (a pearl to wear as a lei)

nvt. Chant that was not danced to, especially with prolonged phrases chanted in one breath, often with a trill (ʻiʻi) at the end of each phrase; to chant thus. Ke oli, the chant. Mea oli, chanter. (PNP oli.)

Welcome to Merrie Monarch week in beautiful (cold and rainy) Hilo, Hawaiʻi. And true to form, was all beautiful last week and this week, on an early morning drive in from Hāmākua — POURING. But we will see. You never know.

Lots going on in this quaint little town: hula, shopping, parade, shopping, eating, shopping and hula. So I thought this an appropriate time to brush up on one important word pertinent to the week.

If you are going to watch the Merrie Monarch on television (or one of the few who get to view it in person), you will certainly hear a lot of oli. Notice no ʻokina. Oli is chanting that is not accompanied by hula. If there is hula involved, then it is mele. When the dancer(s) first go onto the stage the performance will probably begin with an oli, probably an oli of welcome or something related to the dance that will follow.

There are many different types or styles of oli, as you have probably noticed. Some of these include: kepakepa (fast, rhythmic chant), hoʻāeae (chant with lengthened vowels), or kāwele (similar but slower than kepakepa).

Click here for an example of oli (by Aunty Maʻiki Aiu Lake). Here is a mele (chant accompanied by instrument and dance) by Kaʻupena Wong, one of my all time favorite chanters of today.

Oli (chant) is NOT to be confused with ʻoli (note the ʻokina) which means joyful or happy, as in hauʻoli–happy, or nūʻoli–good news.

There are many different types or styles of oli, as you have probably noticed. Some of these include: kepakepa (fast, rhythmic chant), hoʻāeae (chant with lengthened vowels), or kāwele (similar but slower than kepakepa).

Hoihoi nā oli ma ka hoʻokūkū hula – the chants at the hula competition are interesting.

Lōʻihi kekahi mau oli – Some chants are long.

Ikaika ka leo o nā mea oli – the chanters have strong voices.

Copyright:

2015 – Liana Iaea Honda. ALl rights reserved. All versions of He Momi e Lei ai”, in its entirety, past and present, is the property of L. K. I. Honda. Reproduction and use of any kind other than the sharing of this website is prohibited. Alteration to the original content in any form is prohibited in every and any instance, and use in any other variant is prohibited without written consent of the author.

nvt. To oppose, resist, protest; opposite, versus, adverse, contrary, antagonistic, unwilling; objection. Lit., stand different. He manaʻo kūʻē, an opposite meaning. Kūʻē kānāwai, unlawful, contrary to law, illegal, against the law. Kūʻē aupuni, opposed or disloyal to the government, rebel. Hana kūʻē, violation, opposition. Mea kūʻē, adversary, opponent. Kūʻē i ka palapala kauoha, to contest a will. Kūʻē i kō haʻi manaʻo, to oppose others’ views; intolerant. Nā kāhuna kūʻē i ka Pope, ministers opposed to the Pope, Protestant ministers. Kūʻē kumukānāwai, unconstitutional. hoʻo.kū.ʻē To cause opposition, to stir up resistance; to oppose, clash.

Another appropriate word for this week, as our kanaka continue to resist, protest, oppose the illegal building of yet another telescope (I don’t even want to talk about the magnitude of size of this particular one) upon our mauna kapu. It is a hana kūʻē, a violation, of what is pono (just, right). Who will join us in this kūʻē?

As warriors, we protest and oppose the desecration of our sacred land WITH aloha in our hearts. We are #IDLENOMORE. We go in harmony, with positive energy that we are in this together, trusting in one another to carry this same message. Aloha patriots protecting the mauna kapu.

E kū’ē kākou i ke aloha no Poli’ahu i ke kapu – Let us protest surrounded by love for sacred Poli’ahu.

Taboo, prohibition; special privilege or exemption from ordinary taboo; sacredness; prohibited, forbidden; sacred, holy, consecrated; no trespassing, keep out.

Today, our warriors stand atop our mauna kapu, Mauna a Wākea, in an effort to prevent the desecration of this sacred ʻāina. Known as Mauna Kea, she is kapu, or sacred. She is the mountain (mauna) of (a) Wākea (sky father).

Today, our warriors are being arrested because they would rather this than knowingly allow yet another telescope to be built upon her soil.

Today, our warriors oli, sing mele, share their aloha and stand united to protect this holy land. Yes, we all have our holy land. We would NEVER think to go to Jerusalem and desecrate its holiness. Same for our mauna. Why would anyone think it okay.

Kapu – sacred. forbidden. prohibited. If we don’t stand for her, who will?

He mauna kapu ʻo Mauna a Wākea -Mauna Kea is a sacred mountain.