Prepared for students of LIS 693, Fall 2016

1. Mele

2. What is mele?
mele
1. nvt. Song, anthem, or chant of any kind; poem,
poetry; to sing, chant (preceded by both ke and
ka). Cf. hakumele. Kāna mele, his song [sung by
him or composed by him]. Kona mele, his song [in
his honor]. Ke Mele a Solomona (Biblical), the
Song of Solomon. Cf. oli, a chant that is not
danced to. Mele ʻoli, gay song. hoʻo.mele To cause
to sing or chant. (PNP umele.)

3. Brief timeline of mele
1820-1872:
Represents span between the
arrival of Captain Cook and
the establishment of the
Royal Hawaiian Band by
Henry Berger
● Two main types of
music: hymns and
secular music
● Foreigners introduce
stringed instruments
and different music
styles (e.g. waltz)
E kuʻu belle o ka po laʻilaʻi
Ka lawe malie a ka mahina
Koaniani mai nei e ke ahe
Ahea ʻoe hoʻolono mai
Hui:
Ahea ʻoe, ahea ʻoe
ʻOe hoʻolono mai
I nei leo nahenahe
Adios, adios ke aloha
E ka hauʻoli ʻiniki puʻuwai
E ke aloha e maliu mai ʻoe
Ke hoʻolale mai nei e ke Kiu
Ua anu ka wao i ka ua
Hoʻokahi kiss
Dew drops he maʻu ia
E ka belle o ka noe lihau
Eia au la e ke aloha
Ke huli hoʻi nei me ka neo
Adios Ke Aloha
Prince William Pitt Leleiohoku
Pre-1820:
● Hawaiian poetry
referred to as "oli" and
"mele"
● Oli and mele not given
formal names - most
often referred to (then
and now) by the first
line
● Oli and mele not
typically accompanied
by a musical
accompaniment

4. Brief timeline of mele
1872-1900:
Represents time of Royal
Hawaiian Band and royal music
clubs
● Most famous: Kawaihau
Glee Club
● Piano and guitar especially
prevalent
1900-1915
Represents time of American
urban music
● Jazz and ragtime seep into
Honolulu
● 1903: Sonny Cunha
composes "My Waikiki
Mermaid" with English
words and ragtime piano -
and hapa haole music is
officially launched
1915-1960
Hapa haole music era
● Full orchestras add a slick
"Hollywood" sound to
Hawaiian songs, old and
new
● Large hotel showrooms
across the continent feature
Hawaiian musicians, music,
and hula
● Language the obvious
determining factor between
Hawaiian and hapa haole

5. Brief timeline of mele
1960-1970:
● Lack of interest in
Hawaiian music
● On Hawaiian radio,
amount of Hawaiian music
played drops to 5%
● Rock and roll dominated
● Music of Kui Lee and Don
Ho becomes very popular
1970-1990:
● "Hawaiian Renaissance"
calls for identification and
proliferation of "Hawaiian"
customs
● Energetic revival of 19th
and 20th century Hawaiian
music
● The Sons of Hawaii and
the Sunday Manoa lead
revival
1990-present
● Heavy influence from
reggae and other styles,
such as hip hop, dubstep,
pop and soul
● "Jawaiian": mix of Hawaiian
and reggae styles
● Hawaiian music still carried
by bands like Hookena,
Brothers Cazimero, Raiatea
Helm, Weldon Kekauoha

6. What is mele?
Characteristics:
● Inclusive of Hawaiian language
● Reflective of musical styles from different time periods and different cultures
● Form
○ Typically follows 8-bar and 16-bar plus refrain scheme
● Melody
○ Use of large intervals, as seen in falsetto
● Rhythm
○ Two- or four- beat patterns, with the waltz being the exception

7. What is mele?
"It is apparent that Hawaiian music is not a simple tune to the strum of an ukulele. A
typical melody, harmony, or text is not going to define Hawaiian music. Nor is a
Hawaiian voice quality without the typical music trappings to accommodate it going to
define the music.
It is the right combination of typical musical features, representative instruments, and
unique Hawaiian voice qualities sparked by the creative individual genius of the
Hawaiian artist that makes the music unquestionably Hawaiian."
--Elizabeth Tatar