Hawaiian Music Anthems

Punahou '59

Hawaiian Anthems

Aloha folks,

Here are two of Hawaii's most favorite anthems, "Hawai'i Aloha" and "Mele Aloha 'Aina".

An anthem is a musical composition, usually used as a symbol for a distinct group, particularly the national anthems of countries. The word "anthem" is now commonly used to describe any celebratory song or composition for a distinct group, as in national anthems. Anthems are meant to be sung in groups and on special occasions.   These recent renditions of two of Hawaii's most revered anthems are remarkable in many ways. Hawaii Aloha and Mele Aloha 'Aina are two of the most popular of all of our Hawaiian songs from our growing up in Hawaii, well recognized by each of us, and often sung in large groups at special occasions.

1) " Hawaii Aloha "

This is the recent "Hawaii Aloha 2016" rendition of the original anthem written in the 19th century by missionary Rev. Lorenzo Lyons, who lifted the music from a hymn.

2)    " Mele Aloha 'Aina "      also known as "Kaulana Na Pua"

This version of "The Patriot's Song" was published/recorded on Jul 28, 2015. It was written by Ellen Keho'ohiwoakalani Wright Pendergast in 1893. This was a mele of opposition to the annexation of Hawai'i to the United States. Originally this mele was titled Mele ʻAi Pōhaku (The Stone Eating Song) and was also known as Mele Aloha ʻĀina.

Keali'i Reichel is joined by an ensemble cast of friends including Ernie Cruz Jr., Sam Ako, Nāpua Makua, Carlos Andrade, Manu Boyd, Palani Vaughan, and Mike Ka'awa for an inspiring rendition of this classic song which both celebrates a shared vision for Hawaiian sovereignty while recalling the negativity of the past resulting from the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian government on January 17, 1893, when the insurgency under the protection of U.S. troops began to force individuals in government to sign oaths of support for the provisional government. If they refused, they would lose their jobs. An excellent short history of the insurgency that resulted in Hawaiians losing their Kingdom to the mercenaries, ex-military soldiers hired by the business interests wishing to annex Hawaii to the United States, can be read at "The Patriot's Song" .

The Patriot’s Song has endured and it is a well-known song played today throughout the islands. The lyrics are still sung in the Hawaiian language, and for people today who do not know the language they are completely unaware as to the meaning of the song and its fierce loyalty to the Hawaiian Kingdom and Queen Lili‘uokalani. This is especially so because the melody has been softened since the 1950’s, but the lyrics have remained nearly unchanged for over a century.

3)   "Mele Aloha 'Aina"    performed by the Makaha Sons
   ______________________
It tells the story of the people who love their land. Aloha ‘Aina. It features:

These remarkable new renditions of Hawaii Aloha and Mele Aloha 'Aina
·         The wonderful faces of the local peoples of Hawaii of today,

·         The incredible beauty of Hawaii,

·         The musicality of the performers and the variety of their instruments,

·         The technology that allows all of the performers from various places on all of the Islands to perform “live” together,

·         And the hopeful and proud faces of the youth of Hawaii joining the chorus.

Aloha Hawaii and Mele Aloha 'Aina are two of our most recognizable songs, classic Hawaiian anthems, performed by groups of people. Born and/or raised in Hawaii, we have memories of trying to learn the words in school and singing them to conclude gatherings both formal and informal, everything from the ends of concerts to political gatherings. Traditionally, during the final refrain everyone holds hands, raises and sways them in the air in concert.

Please take five and enjoy the trip with your head and heart back to our youthful years growing up in Hawaii together and then share a special prayer for the Hawaiian peoples who came to Hawaii first but who openly accepted the legions of other immigrants to the Islands who came after them.

And then pass this along to loved ones and friends to remind them how fortunate we were to grow up in Hawaii, in the ‘50’s, and to share it all through Punahou. How blessed and fortunate we were and are.   These two anthems together meld our heads and hearts into one.

Me kealoha pumehana, (with our warmest regards)...

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                          Kaulana Nā Pua      (Famous are the Flowers)

                                By:    Ellen Kehoʻohiwaokalani Wright Prendergast    1893

Kaulana nā pua aʻo Hawaiʻi

Kūpaʻa ma hope o ka ʻāina

Hiki mai ka ʻelele o ka loko ʻino

Palapala ʻānunu me ka pākaha

Pane mai Hawaiʻi moku o Keawe

Kōkua nā Hono aʻo Piʻilani

Kākoʻo mai Kauaʻi o Mano

Paʻapū me ke one Kākuhihewa

ʻAʻole aʻe kau i ka pūlima

Ma luna o ka pepa o ka ʻēnemi

Hoʻohui ʻāina kūʻai hewa

I ka pono sivila aʻo ke kanaka

ʻAʻole mākou aʻe minamina

I ka puʻu kālā o ke aupuni

Ua lawa mākou i ka pōhaku

I ka ʻai kamahaʻo o ka āina

Ma hope mākou o Liliʻulani

A loaʻa ē ka pono o ka ʻāina

*(A kau hou ʻia e ke kalaunu)

Haʻina ʻia mai ana ka puana

Ka poʻe i aloha i ka ʻāina

*Alternate Stanza

Famous are the children of Hawai`i

Ever loyal to the land

When the evil-hearted messenger comes

With his greedy document of extortion

Hawaiʻi, land of Keawe answers

Piʻilani's bays help

Mano's Kauaʻi lends support

And so do the sands of Kākuhihewa

No one will fix a signature

To the paper of the enemy

With its sin of annexation

And sale of native civil rights

We do not value

The government's sums of money

We are satisfied with the stones

Astonishing food of the land

We back Liliʻulani

Who has won the rights of the land

*(She will be crowned again)

Tell the story

Of the people who love their land

*Alternate Stanza