Lāna‘i Culture & Heritage Center

As the Puke Kamali‘i was being set up for printing, Kumu Hula, La‘ikealoha Kaopuiki Hanog asked Kepā Maly if he could compose a song about kalo for Lāna‘i haumāna. The timing was perfect, and the next day the mele “He Pua Au Na Ke Kalo” was finished — Mahalo ke Akua, Mahalo e nā Kūpuna. We saw it as a perfect addition to the new book—an experiential learning activity for students engaged in connecting with the bio-culutral landscape of their island home. The words and recording of the mele are shared here so that teachers and students can use it in their class and as a way of sharing aloha while they are on the ‘āina.He Pua Au Na Ke Kalo O Hāloa naka lau kapalili ka mua A kupu mai—ke kalo lau loa, eia au There was first Hāloa of the quivering leafKalo of the long-stalk grew, here I am Hānau hou mai ka muli o Hāloa A puka mai—ke kanaka, eia au Next, the younger Hāloa was bornHumankind came forth, here I am O ke kalo, huluhulu me ka iho kalo Ka ‘ohā, ke kumu ‘o—hana, eia au The kalo, the root, the corm,the offshoot is the source of family, here I am He hāhā, he piko, he mu‘o, He lau naka—i ka makani, eia auA stalk, a leaf indentation, a sproutA leaf nodding in the breeze, here I am Eia au he pua—o ke kalo Mai ka huli mua o Hāloa, eia auHere I am a descendant of the kaloFrom the first planting of Hāloa, here I am He kalo kanu o Maunalei aloha E ola au—i ke kalo, eia auA kalo planted in beloved MaunaleiI live through the kalo, here I am (Hua ‘Ōlelo & Leo na Kepā Maly © Pepeluali 1, 2018)

“Lāna‘i Ku‘u Wahi Ola Maoli Nō” written by E ‘Ike Hou Iā Lāna‘i, Cultural Enrichment Program — Summer 2015 Students, Matt Sproat, Jamaica Osorio, & Kepā Maly. June 28, 2015. Performed live by Blake Tan & Simon Tajiri. End credits performed by Matt Sproat.In 2015 haumāna composed a new mele (click play at right) as a part of the E ‘Ike Hou Iā Lāna‘i cultural literacy program. This new mele for Lāna‘i describes their experiences at Lānai Hale, Maunalei and Kahalepalaoa-Wai‘aōpae. Haumāna wrote the lyrics with the assistance of Kumu Jamaica Osorio, Matt Kawaiola Sproat and Kepā Maly. They then worked with master musician, Matt Kawaiola Sproat to develop the melody, and Kepā Maly translated the words into Hawaiian.