Marina del Rey Outrigger Canoe Club

Knowledge => Mana'o (PUBLIC) => Topic started by: Tama on May 24, 2010, 05:17PM

Title: Kahanamoku Klassic Morning Pule
Post by: Tama on May 24, 2010, 05:17PM
For those interested in reading the chant that Van and I recited Saturday morning, here it is:

Kunihi Ka Mauna I Ka La’i E
Mele Kahea

Kunihi ka mauna i ka la’i e      The mountain stands out clearly
‘O Wai’ale’ale la i Wailua      Mount Wai’ale’ale at Wailua
Huki a’e la i ka lani         Lifted up to heaven
Ka papa auwai o Kawaikini      The stream plank of Kawaikini
Alai ‘ia ‘e la e Nounou      Obstructed by Nounou
Nalo Kaipuha’a            Concealed is Kaipuha’a
Ka laula mauka o Kapa’a e      The upland expance of Kapa’a
Mai pa’a i ka leo         Do not withhold the voice
He ‘ole kahea mai e         Speak up the call to come in


As cited in the book, "Pele and Hi`iaka: A Myth from Hawaii" By Nathaniel B. Emerson

"On arriving at Ha`ena, Hi`iaka did not go at once to Lohiau's place but to the house of Malae-ha`a-koa, a man of chiefish rank, and one who had the reputation of being a seer.  He was lame and unable to walk.  for this reason his wife, Wailua-nui-a-hoano, had carried him down to the seashore and, leaving him there to his fishing, had gone home to her work of tapa-making.  She was busily  wielding the tapa club in the hale kuku kapa while Hi`iaka stood outside the enclosure and sang:"

The brief story behind this 'mele kahea', is that Hi`iaka, Pele's sister, was on a journey to fetch Pele's lover from Kaua`i, Lohiau.  
The story of this myth is largely a 'rite of passage' for Hi`iaka.  But when arriving on Kaua`i, she had encountered Wailua-nui-a-hoano, and asked for permission to cross the river in front of her to beseech the her husband.  When Hi`iaka arrived, she saw Wailua sitting there beating her kapa.  Hi`iaka chanted for permission to cross the river.  To her suprise, Wailua did not respond.  Hi`iaka again chanted, and again met with no response.  Upon her last time, she chanted like usual, but towards the end of the chant, she changed her tone to more of a demand rather than a request.  She was confident and demanded permission because she was realing that Wailua was not going to respond to a request.  However, the gist of this parable in relation to us as haumana, students of hula, is that, it's a reflection of our selves and our obstacles.  We are the creators and destroyers of our own obstacles.  

The mele kahea, speaks of landmarks on Kaua`i and it's relation to being seen by the viewer.  Mount Wai`ale`ali at Wailua.  
(http://members.toast.net/fdw/northsh/cratrwet.gif)
The visible image is that it's a shear side cliff that's incredibly high.  This is one of several obscured landmarks mentioned in this mele kahea.   The significance of this is the relationship to our obstacles in life.  To us they can seem insurmountable, and daunting.  But in reality, if we were to persist or "not with hold our voice" we can eventually over come our obstacles.  Some thing that can be related to in paddling.  Especially being out on the water, it's really a struggle against ourselves when we are racing and competing.  It becomes a contest against yourself, to push your self to the limits and overcome what you think you could not.