Na Mele o Hawai'i at KDRT

01/08/2024

This week we celebrate Ka Lā Ho'iho'i Ea, commemorating July 31, 1843, when sovereignty was returned to the Hawaiian Monarchy after a 5-month illegal occupation by Britain.
In the second hour, we highlight some of the winners of 2023 Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards, in preparation for this weekend's 2024 awards. You can livestream the awards Sat., Aug 3, 7 pm HST at Hawaii News Now. Who are you hoping will win?

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01/08/2024

E kala mai! I've been remiss in posting the links to the weekly show.
Here's last week's show, all about the George Na'ope Festival, held in Sacramento July 19-21. We play the mele that were danced to in the group 'auana division. Sit back and enjoy some very danceable music!

Unless otherwise stated, the content of this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 License.

27/07/2024

For serious consideration:

END MILITARY LEASES OF HAWAIIAN LANDS ON O'ahu
You can take action today on the leases by SIGNING THE PETITION demanding no lease renewal and the return of the lands used by the US Army to the rightful owners - the native people of Hawai’i.

Here is the link to the petition:
https://www.change.org/protectOahu

25/07/2024

From fellow Hawaiian music lover Jody Yamamoto:
My all-time favorite Hawaiian artists in an intimate production for PBS Hawaiʻiʻs "Nā Mele" that Iʻve never seen before. Filmed in the acoustically rich historic Hawaiʻi Theater in 2013, we are not only treated to the beautiful never-to-be heard-again voices and harmonies of Robert and the dear late Roland Cazimero, but we get to listen in on interviews about their lives growing up and experiences as musicians. And if you look closely at the dancers that accompany them near the end, youʻll see the late Keo Woolford, the popular Alakaʻi Lastimado, and even a young Nicolas Lum of the group Keauhou, who are carrying on the musical legacy of the Brothers Cazimeroʻs May Day productions.

In this Nā Mele, The Brothers Cazimero are captured at peak performance, with lifetime experience and wisdom informing their musical interpretations. The pro...

23/07/2024

22/07/2024

16/07/2024

💖💖💖

16/07/2024

Traditional Uses of ʻUlu by Hōkūao Pellegrino of Nohoʻana Farm (from Cultural Overview of ʻUlu: Maui, 2015), photo by B. David Cathell:

Almost every part of the ʻulu tree was utilized by Hawaiians, however the chiefly use of the breadfruit was for food. ʻUlu was picked with a lou (a long pole having a short stick lashed across it obliquely, which serves as a hood) when the oozing of the gum hardened and turned brown, as well as the skin itself taking on a brownish color. A Hawaiian ʻōlelo noʻeau or proverb states “Nānā i ka ‘ulu i pakī kēpau” (Look for the breadfruit spotted with gum). (Pukui 1983) The ‘ulu was then either baked over an open fire (pūlehu) or in an earth oven (imu). After it is cooked, it was peeled and cut into pieces where it could be eaten as is or put on to a poi board and pounded down with a little water to make poi ‘ulu. ʻUlu could also be eaten when it turns soft and ripe. At this stage the ʻulu is very sweet and less starch like in taste.
The bark of the ‘ulu tree was used in lāʻau lapaʻau (herbal medicine) for treating certain diseases. The leaf buds of the ʻulu were pounded with ʻalaea (red ocherous dirt) and smeared in the mouth. The kēpau or latex/gum was used for treating skin ailments. Children picked off the kēpau from the tree bark and chewed it like gum. The kēpau also served as a glue for caulking parts of the waʻa (canoe) as well as gluing together smaller things such as gourds and other hula implements. The kēpau was used by bird catchers whereby a stick would be smeared with the gluey substance and placed in a tree to catch small birds for their feathers. The dried malo or sheath of the bud or bloom served as a polisher for ʻumeke (bowls) and kukui (nuts). Kapa makers would sometimes make kapa out of the bast of the bark. It was named poulu and produced a rather brittle and hard kapa versus kapa made from wauke (Broussonetia papyrifera). The lāʻau or wood is considered durable and firm yet light comparable to that of endemic hardwoods such as ʻōhiʻa lehua, kauila, and uhiuhi. The wood was used for the bow, stern pieces and gunwales of the waʻa (canoe). The wood was also highly prized for making papa kuʻi ʻai (poi boards). The wood when dried does not secrete any tannin or toxins which in turn makes it a choice material for preparing food on. The wood was also used for making pahu or hula drums. (Handy)

15/07/2024

If you're planning a trip to Hawai'i, here are a few volunteer opportunities to explore:
https://www.hilt.org/volunteer

14/07/2024

Mark your calendars!

Sacramento Aloha Festival will be at the Gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburn, California! Come join us at this beautiful venue for some much needed ALOHA!

14/07/2024

13/07/2024

https://youtu.be/57Tb0SOV9gY?si=S7QdYBBvyzMAl40s

In this special Nā Mele, Tony Conjugacion returns to his roots and pays tribute to his musical influences. The PBS Hawaiʻi studios were transformed into a gr...

12/07/2024

Wonderful - and pono - news!
https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/local-news/2024-07-01/na-wai-eha-maui-water-supreme-court?utm_source=flux-enewsletter&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=fluxfridays_7-12-24&utm_content=edit

11/07/2024

The Hawaiian Music Perpetuation Society hopes to restore Hawaiian music for both visitors and locals – not just as a source of entertainment, but also as a way to pass down the stories and traditions of Hawaii that’s told in mele. The organization’s president is Kuuipo Kumukahi, a longtime Haw...

07/07/2024

06/07/2024

https://youtu.be/RYw9DUt9JJ4?si=C9jyS4v3XE7f8nEd

In our new film “Hula is Hawaii” - we take you through the legacy of an island and show you WHY Hula is so much more than just a beautiful dance 💚🌿Starring...

05/07/2024

A CELEBRATION OF HULA KIʻI