An Epic etold in
Splendor
Halau O Kekuhi brings Pele's tale to life
by Desireé Moana Cruz
I can still visualize my tutu with
her index finger placed across her closed mouth.
"Shhhhh… kulikuli…" she would say quietly, intently,
gently.
"Quiet down… listen (her finger would point to her ear and
then purposefully return to her lips again) …be quiet…kulikuli."
As she captured our undivided attention, we would silently lean in to
pay close mind to the lesson that would inevitably unfold.
This is how we were taught as children to absorb the story before us.
Listen…pay attention…no need to ask unnecessary questions.
Watch…ponder…soak it in…memorize…and learn. This
was the style we embraced while at home, in the garden or at the beach.
However, in school we were reminded too often that Hawaiians had no
written language. We were made to feel inadequate and somehow responsible
for this shortcoming. Today, I wonder why no one mentioned the intricacies
of the Hawaiian language-the subtle nuances, the poetry and beauty in
the kaona and double entendres. No one valued the respectful position
that listening intently afforded. No one highlighted the beauty of oration
and the amazing talent and skill it took to memorize lengthy historical
chants and genealogies.
These thoughts flooded my mind as I listened to Hi'iaka I Ka Poli O
Pele: Journey into the Sacred, a new CD release by world-renowned kumu
hula Pualani Kanaka'ole Kanahele and Nalani Kanaka'ole with Halau O
Kekuhi, which traces the epic journey of fire goddess Pelehonuamea as
she searches the Hawaiian Islands to find a permanent home and the ensuing
challenges that she faces.
The album is distributed by Jon DeMello's Mountain Apple Company. The
graphics and liner notes are superb. Basic English language translations
become almost irrelevant when compiled with the stunning photography
and provocative text. Well respected throughout the hula world and beyond,
members of Keaukaha-based Halau O Kekuhi are resplendent in their multihued
take on traditional hula kahiko attire. Bedecked with their signature
lei kupe'e shells and lei po'o laua'e, they appear as a natural part
of the magnificently austere Ka'u landscape.
Longtime halau member Taupouri Tangaro, Ph.D., a gifted dancer, chanter,
songwriter and poet, lends his mana'o to the liner notes: "Pualani
Kanaka'ole Kanahele and Nalani Kanaka'ole continue to steward the teachings
of their ancestors intrepidly and prolifically, building upon the solid
foundations of the 'aiha'a traditions as bequeathed to them by their
maternal grandmother, Kekuewa Ahi'ena and her ascendants. 'Aiha'a reaches
beyond a mere bombastic mimesis of volcanic activity. To be 'aiha'a
is to be voraciously consumed by the chant and dance where strain, sweat
and heat beckons for primal connections to reside within the chanter
and dancer."
Kanaka'ole Kanahele serves as haka ka'ao (storyteller); her voice sets
the stage for one of the greatest stories in the entire Pacific. Each
chapter is introduced in English and then released by soloists or groups
as they chant the specifics. Pahu (drums) add depth and dramatic movement.
Listen for familiar words, phrases and place names. Pay attention to
the fine distinction in each chanter's voice. Be still and allow yourself
to hear youthful vigor and wise maturity as various characters enter.
Those familiar with this tale will find beauty in the re-emergence of
recognizable characters as halau members infuse them with life. To the
uninitiated, a mythic story will unfold that pushes you to examine more
closely the natural environment that surrounds us today in earth, ocean
and sky.
The story begins with Pelehonuamea emerging from the east with an entourage
of family members including her beloved baby sister Hi'iakaikapoliopele.
Hi'iaka grows into a capable young woman who makes friends with a lovely
dancer from Puna named Hopoe. Through their friendship, hula is born.
Pele sends Hi'iaka on a journey across the islands to fetch Pele's lover,
Lohiau. As she travels from Hawai'i to Maui, O'ahu and on to Kaua'i,
Hi'iaka overcomes many challenges. In doing so, she matures to inevitably
challenge her daunting elder sister and emerge victo-rious.
Tangaro states, "To listen to the myth of Pele and Hi'iaka is to
open your spirit to the secret of eternality, to resurrect memories
and connections, and to engage them toward the betterment of our earthly
life. The myth of Pele and Hi'iaka was not meant to be read; rather,
it was meant to be told, transmitted from generation to generation through
storytelling, chanting, dancing, healing and day to day living in a
sacred environment."
Take time to dig deep and still only scratch the surface of this epic
tale of Hawai'i. The dynamics of life and death, of jealousy and passion
of the ancient ones mirror our own familial rela-tionships today, in
a story that is ancient, contemporary and futuristic. The CD is available
almost everywhere Hawaiian music is sold, Or go to www.mountainapplecompany.com.
Aloha a hui hou as the beat goes on… n
Reach Desiree at islandbeat@hawaiiislandjournal.com.
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