Ke Mele a me ke Oli ~ Song and Chant |
Sources:
mele |
Song, anthem, or chant of any kind; poem, poetry; to sing, chant (preceded by both ke and ka); vocal music. |
oli |
Chant, not danced to, especially with prolonged phrases chanted in one breath, often with a trill (`i`i ) at the end of each phrase. |
hîmeni |
Hymn, any song not used for hula. Transliterated from the English, hymn. |
kaona |
Hidden meaning, as in mele and oli; concealed reference, as to a person, thing or place; words with double meanings that might bring good or bad fortune. |
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No wai ke kaona o kêia mele? |
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Kaona ho`o`ino`ino (pejorative innuendo). |
Ka Po`e o Ka Mele / The People of Song |
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anaina |
Audience. |
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haku mele |
Composer, poet; to compose songs or chants. |
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In Hawaiian thinking, ka haku o ke mele (the owner of a song or a chant) is the one for whom it was composed (rather than the composer). Thus, the following distinction is made: Kâna mele means "his/her song", that which is sung or composed BY that person. No ownership is implied. Kona mele also means "his/her song", that which has been composed FOR that person. Ownership is understood. |
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ho`opa`a |
Drummer and hula chanter. Lit., the memorizer. ROOT WORDS: |
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ka`i pu`ukani |
Vocal coach. ROOT WORDS: |
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mea hîmeni |
Singer of hymns or any song not used for hula. Root words: |
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mea oli |
Chanter. ROOT WORDS: |
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pu`ukani
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Singer. Also used as an adjective: sweet-voiced as in singing; sweet-toned. Root words: |
Ho`omele / To Sing |
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English uses the word, sing, in many contexts. Ka `Ôlelo Hawai`i is more context-specific, using different words for various modes of singing. |
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mele |
To sing, to chant (preceded by both ke or ka). Ho`omele, to cause to sing or chant. |
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hîmeni |
To sing hymns or any song not used for hula. |
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 hîmeni aku ka po`e hîmeni. |
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memele |
Plural of mele, to sing. |
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Nâ po`e memele. Eia nâ `ânela ke memele nei. |
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hea |
To sing or recite a name chant. |
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kani |
To sing, as birds. |
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koihonua |
To sing genealogical chants; to sing such chants; also, presto (in music, quick part). |
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hô`oma`oma |
To pretend to sing; to work the mouth but not sing with others. |
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ha`iha`i |
To sing with a breaking voice, a style of singing thusly; rising and falling of the voice; quavering. |
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Ma ka leo kauô, ho`ânu`unu`u, â ho`oha`iha`i . |
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kolekolea |
To sing of the kâhuli, a land shell. Fig., a child that runs about wildly. |
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kani le`a |
To sing cheerfully, as birds. |
Kinds of Songs |
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mele |
Song, anthem or chant of any kind; poem, poetry; to sing, chant. |
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mele ahiahi |
Evening song, vesper. ROOT WORDS: |
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mele aupuni |
Anthem. ROOT WORDS: |
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mele hai pule |
Hymn, religious song. ROOT WORDS: |
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mele hapa haole |
Hawaiian type song mostly in English words. ROOT WORDS: |
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mele hô`ala |
Awakening song. ROOT WORDS: |
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mele ho`âlohaloha |
Serenade. ROOT WORDS: |
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mele ho`oipoipo |
Love song. ROOT WORDS: |
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mele ho`onânâkeiki |
Lullaby. ROOT WORDS: |
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mele inoa |
Name chant, composed in honor of a person. ROOT WORDS: |
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mele kâhea |
Chant or song for admittance to a hula school. ROOT WORDS: |
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mele ka`i |
Chant or song sung while dancers come out before the audience; a procession song. ROOT WORDS: |
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mele ka`i ho`i |
Chant or song sung while dancers leave the audience; a recession song. ROOT WORDS: |
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mele ka`i kaua |
Battle song. ROOT WORDS: |
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mele kani kau |
Dirge, mourning song. ROOT WORDS: |
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mele komo |
Welcoming song. ROOT WORDS: |
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mele kuahu |
Altar chant. ROOT WORDS: |
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mele ma`i |
Genitals song. ROOT WORDS: |
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mele `oli |
Joyful song. ROOT WORDS: |
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mele paikau |
A march; marching song. ROOT WORDS: |
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mele ukali hua kumu |
Alphabet song, as one repeating the vowels. ROOT WORDS: |
Ka Leo / Voice |
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leo |
Voice. Also means: tone, tune, melody, sound, command, advice, syllable, verbal message; to speak, to make a sound. Kona leo = his/her voiceKâna leo = his/her tune |
leo kâne |
Bass ROOT WORDS: pako, transliterated from English. |
hâ`oi |
Baritone ROOT WORDS: |
leo kâne ki`eki`e |
Tenor ROOT WORDS: |
`aeko, `aleko, leo waena |
Alto ROOT WORDS: leo (voice) + waena (in between) |
leo wahine, kopolano |
Soprano ROOT WORDS: kopolano, transliterated from English. |
leo ki`eki`e |
Falsetto ROOT WORDS: |
Singing Terminology |
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`i`i |
Admired deep, rasping sound in chanting; tremor (vibrato); guttural quality of some sounds, as back vowels or strongly aspirated "h". |
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hone |
Sweet and soft, as music; sweetly appealing, as perfume or a memory of love; to sound softly. |
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nahenahe |
Soft, sweet, melodious, as music or a gentle voice. |
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polinahe |
Soft and gentle, as low music or a breeze. |
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ka hui maika`i `ana o nâ leo mele |
Harmony |
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`ea, leo |
Melody, tune |
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kî |
Key, pitch and clef |
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Keynote ROOT WORDS: |
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Pitch ki`ina = voice intonation |
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High pitch ROOT WORDS: |
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Low pitch ROOT WORDS: |
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hua kani |
Tone |
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leo halulu |
Deep tone ROOT WORDS: |
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leo lele puni |
A musical interlude of a full tone. ROOT WORDS: |
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leo nahenahe |
Sweet voice ROOT WORDS: |
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mâpuna leo |
Wafted voice ROOT WORDS: |
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ho`oko`iko`i |
Deepen the voice. ROOT WORDS: |
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`apo leo |
Record the voice. ROOT WORDS: |
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`aha mele |
Concert, song concert, song festival ROOT WORDS: |
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`aha mele maluhale |
Indoor concert ROOT WORDS: |
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`aha mele kaupokulani |
Outdoor concert ROOT WORDS: |
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