Click on photos to enlarge!"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'"
Dr. Martin Luther King
"If everybody is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking." Gen. George Patton
"Scrabble is both mindless and cerebral, which may account for it's appeal to writers - it gives you the chance to push words around without having to make them mean something." Judith Thurman, The New Yorker
The Hawaiians of old honored their Ali`i (Ah-lee-ee) or chiefs, with "Name Chants." These "Mele Inoa" were performed with music. Each mele also has an "Oli" version that was chanted with dignity. These are among the classics of Hula and of Hawaiian history, vestiges of an oral culture that are considered priceless cultural treasures.
Halau Ho`omau I ka Wai Ola ("In Hula & Halau, we remain young at heart and full of life.") is a Hula Halau of around 80 members who live in the Washington D.C. area. Most of the dancers are Hawaii people who work and live on the continent, but who feel an unbreakable connection to their home and to our island culture.
It was a point of pride to these frozen flowers that a man born and raised in our Hawaii has been elected High Chief of the United States. And so a Mele Inoa was created in his honor. The troupe performed the Chant and Hula in connection with the inaugural events last month.
17 comments:
Such a dichotomy: the laid back Hawaiian upbringing mixed with bare knuckles Illinois politic. Even though the Hula is just begun it portends to be a...what would be the word...energetic? dance.
Cloudia,
If it was not for you, I would not know this. Thanks.
I didn't realize there was such a group in the DC area. I am going to have to search them out. Thanks for the info Cloudia. A great post as always.
I heard a strange fact about Hawaii today. Apparently more spam is sold there than any other state in the union.
SPAM = South Pacific Army Meat. With the usual lack of supplies for an isolated island chain, and the U.S. Army leaving huge supplies of SPAM after WWII, it was welcome. SPAM is still served in many meals, at McDonald's, at the mixed plate restaurants, as SPAM musubi, the sticky rice with a grilled slice of SPAM wrapped in a thin seaweed. Tasty! DrumMajor
Beautiful! I love it!
My son and I love to play Scrabble together. Both of us write, too, so the Thurman quote makes perfect sense to me!
Here's a question for you - do you play Scrabble with Hawaiian words? Now that would be interesting!
Peace - D
Cloudia, you should take hula lessons and join a halau. I think you'll dance very well.
Love the quotes Cloudia, especially Gen. Patton's! :)
Walking Man: And we'll all dance along! Thank you-
Chris: And I learn SO much on YOUR blog! Aloha, pal.
Hi, Denise! Just click on the link under the post to see and hear the piece.
Charles: You are Correct! WWII brought rationing, martial law, and lots of spam here. The locals took to it in a big way! Spam Musubi (sort of a spam sushi with rice wrapped in sea vegetable)is available as a snack at the 7-11.
Local McDonald's serve Spam rice & egg breakfasts too. Thanks for your comment.
Drum Major: You are SO Hawaii Savy! BTW I took a great pic of Trippler for you today! Watch for it.
RiverPoet: So cool! And yes, if players agree and have a Hawaiian dictionary then YES, let's include Hawaiian words. Perhaps the only way I could beat Charles, or YOU!
Gigi: Your faith in me is TOTALLY unwarranted, but APPRECIATED! Aloha, Honolulu Neighbor.
Ake: Thanks. You have your own mind for sure!!
Thank you ALL for visiting. If you read tomorrow's post you will understand just how much you are appreciated. ALOHA!
what a wonderful post! thank you
namaste and aloha!
Beautiful mindbending photos as usual Cloudia :)
My friend from Salt Lake City sent me the newspaper about the investiture of Obama.
I would imagine that Hawaii would be proud of contributing a President.
Magic eye: Thak you. Namaste & Aloha.
Braja: Aloha; WOW, thanks! Your blog rocks!
Claude: Bon Jour!!
Junosmom: You KNOW IT! We see our values in him. Hope he succeeds (for all our sakes).
That car hood picture is brilliant!
And thanks once more for the infor!
Hi Cloudia,
Thank you for sharing this awesome mele inoa chant with us although I think there is a word missing in the title on your site? It should read: HIKI MAILA KE ALI`I HO`OULU and not HIKI KE ALI'I HO'OULU. I surely don't want it to be mis-spelled if I had written it.
When I visited the http://www.halau.org site to get a better understanding of the composer, I noticed also listed was an Oli as well titled: HE KAMA O HAWAI'I. I think it is one of the greatest name chant and oli ever written during this time and should be passed on, cherised, and treasured forever. Thank you Kumu hula Manu Ikaika for your contribution.
This is great, this chant!
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