Archives Month 2021

The Hawaiʻi State Archives has been one of the only memory institutions in the state to remain open to the public during the pandemic. As our institution searched for ways to serve the public more effectively given all the constraints, we found ourselves reflecting upon the actions of our ancestors so that we could draw upon their wisdom. As archivists, it is our kuleana (duty, responsibility) to preserve the voices of the past. We achieve this through the application of archival functions on predominately paper records. We reviewed our own holdings for what ʻike (knowledge) they could impart. Our responsibilities extend far beyond those of the written record to also include visual records, artifacts, and audio recordings; which it is in those that we found something amazing.

One of the incredible records series we came upon was titled Hawaiian Chants and Mele (M445); it contained some of the earliest written recordings of traditional Hawaiian storytelling through mele (song, chant, or poem). As we researched these records further and consulted our advisory council of academics and cultural practitioners, we were surprised to learn how many of these important moʻolelo (stories) had been lost to time. We were moved by the lyrical beauty of the words that tugged at our ears and heart with the undulation of the rustling waves and murmuring surf. It is from these writings we drew our inspiration for this year's Archives Month theme – Songful Voices of the Ancestors.

We are excited to announce that we have digitized thousands of pages of mele containing personal histories and place names not seen for generations. Every Thursday in October, we will be releasing curated portions of these amazing works online to share these stories and inspire others during these trying times.

2021 Hawaiʻi State Archives Poster, Ka Leo Nahenahe a Ka Poʻe Kūpuna, ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi versionLink for Hawaiian high-resolution PDF poster

2021 Hawaiʻi State Archives Poster, Songful Voices of the Ancestors, English versionLink for English high-resolution PDF poster

Please join us daily on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/HawaiiStateArchives/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hawaiistatearchives/) for this month’s Photo-of-the-Day theme, The Queen’s Songbook. The selection of photographs is inspired by the mele of Queen Liliʻuokalani.

We hope that you will enjoy these exhibitions as much as we enjoyed selecting them. E Mālama Pono (take care of yourself body and soul).

Click on the images above to see larger versions of this year’s Archives Month poster or click on the link below the thumbnail to download a high-resolution PDF file.

Click on the links below for more information about our Archives Month and to see our virtual exhibitions (updated weekly):
  Hawaiʻi State Archives’ Archives Month 2021 Poster
  Selections from the Theodore Kelsey Manuscript Collection
  Mele from the Paul Markham Kahn Collection
  Selections from the Henry Enoka Palenapa Kekahuna Manuscript Collection
  Hawaiian Chants and Mele Manuscript Collection
  Chant and Genealogy Book
  Videos
     Moʻokūʻauhau: linking the past, present, and future
     He Mele No Hanalei na Devin Kamealoha Forrest
     Keʻelikōlani He Inoa
     The Language of Kanikau
     Pualeilani
     Talk story about Pualeilani

Malama Akewika 2021

ʻO ka Hale Waihona Palapala Kahiko o ka Mokuʻāina wale nō paha o nā hale waihona ʻike o ka lehulehu ma kēia pae ʻāina kahi e hāmama mau ai ka puka i ke kaiāulu i kēia wā maʻi ahulau. I ko mākou ʻimi ʻana i ʻano kākoʻo no ke kaiāulu me ka pono ma lalo o nā kaohi maʻi, ua noʻonoʻo mākou i nā hana a ka poʻe kūpuna e ʻaʻapo ai i ko lākou naʻauao. Ma ke ʻano poʻe akewika, he kuleana ko makou e mālama i nā leo o ke au i hala. Ua kō kēia ma ka lawelawe hana hoʻopapaʻa ʻana o nā palapala pepa. Ua nānā ʻia kā mākou mau waihona palapala no kona ʻike e kaʻa ai. ʻO ko mākou mau kuleana, ʻaʻole naʻe pili i nā palapala wale nō, e pili pū i nā kiʻi, koehana a me nā hoʻopaʻa leo; ma nā waihona palapala kekahi mea kupaianaha i ʻike ʻia.

ʻO kekahi waihona palapala kupaianaha a mākou i ʻike ai, ʻo ia Nā Oli me Mele Hawaiʻi (M432); ma loko o laila kekahi mau palapala mua loa paha o ka haʻi moʻolelo Hawaiʻi o ka wā kahiko ma o nā mele (mele, oli, poema). Iā mākou e noiʻi noelo ana i ia mau palapala me ke kūkākūkā pū i kā mākou ʻaha o nā akeakamai me nā loea, pūʻiwa mākou e aʻo mai i ka ʻane nalohia i ke au o nā moʻolelo koʻikoʻi. Naue nui mākou i ka lila uʻi o nā hua ʻōlelo nāna i huki i ka pepeiao a me ka naʻau me nā nehenehe a ʻoē Hawaiʻi. No loko mai o ia mau kākau ʻana i kupu aʻe ka ʻeu no ka poʻomanaʻo o kēia Malama Akewika 2021 o kēia makahiki – Ka Leo Nahenahe a ka Poʻe Kūpuna.

Pīhoihoi mākou e hoʻolaha aku he mano nā ʻaoʻao mele i hoʻouila ʻia, ma laila nā moʻolelo hunahuna me nā inoa ʻāina i ʻike ʻole ʻia no kekahi mau hānauna. I kēlā me kēia Pōʻahā o ʻOkakopa e hoʻolele ʻia ana kekahi mau māhele o kēia mau hana kupaianaha e laha ai kēia mau moʻolelo a e hoʻēu ai iā haʻi ma kēia wā kūpilikiʻi.

2021 Hawaiʻi State Archives Poster, Ka Leo Nahenahe a Ka Poʻe Kūpuna, ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi versionLoulou no ka pelaha ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi miomio loa PDF

2021 Hawaiʻi State Archives Poster, Songful Voices of the Ancestors, English versionLoulou no ka pelaha ʻōlelo Pelekāne miomio loa PDF

E nānā mai iā mākou i kēlā me kēia la ma Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/HawaiiStateArchives/) me Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hawaiistatearchives/) no ka poʻomanaʻo o ke Kiʻi-o-ka-Lā o kēia malama, Ka Buke Mele a ka Mōʻīwahine. Hoʻoulu ʻia nā kiʻi i koho ʻia e nā mele na Mōʻīwahine Liliʻuokalani i haku.

Ke lana nei ka manaʻo e hauʻoli ana ʻoukou i kēia hōʻikeʻike nei i kū like me kō mākou hauʻoli ma ke koho ʻana. E Mālama Pono ʻoukou.

E kaomi i nā kiʻi ma luna e ʻike aku ai i kiʻi nui o ka pelaha Malama Akewika o kēia makahiki a i ʻole e kaomi i ka loulou ma lalo iho o ke kiʻi iki e hoʻoili i ke kiʻi miomio PDF.

E kaomi i nā loulou ma lalo iho no ka ʻike hou e pili ana i ka Malama Akewika a e nānā i ka hōʻikeʻike pūnaewele (hoʻopuka hou loa i ka pule):
  Pelaha Malama Akewika 2021
  Nā koho mai ka ʻOhina Palapala a Theodore Kelsey
  Mele mai ka ʻOhina Palapala a Paul Markham Kahn
  Nā koho mai ka ʻOhina Palapala a Henry Enoka Palenapa Kekahuna
  Mele me nā Oli Hawaiʻi
  Puke Oli me ka Moʻokūʻauhau
  Wikiō
     Moʻokūʻauhau: linking the past, present, and future
     He Mele No Hanalei na Devin Kamealoha Forrest
     Keʻelikōlani He Inoa
     The Language of Kanikau
     Pualeilani
     Talk story about Pualeilani

See other Archives Month / E nānā i nā Malama Akewika ʻē aʻe
Back to homepage / Hoʻi i ka lou mua

Hawaiʻi State Archives’ Archives Month 2021 Poster
Pelaha Malama Akewika 2021 a Ka Hale Waihona Palapala Kahiko

 
Hawaiian Hula Dancers / Nā Mea Hula Hawaiʻi
From Eaton Magoon’s Collection, postcard / Mai ka ʻOhina a Eaton Magoon, pepa poʻokela

Resources at the Archives / Nā Kūmole ma ka Hale Akewika:
Photograph Collection, Ref No. PP-32-9a-003 / Waihona Paʻi Kiʻi, Helu Kuhi. PP-32-9a-003

Download the high-resolution scan of this photograph from the Hawaiian Music Online Photograph Exhibition. See other similar photographs in our Hawaiian Music Online Photograph Exhibition.

Hoʻoili i ke kiʻi miomio loa i paʻi uila ʻia ma ka Hōʻikeʻike Kiʻi Uila ʻo Nā Mele Hawaiʻi. E nānā i nā kiʻi ʻano like ma kō mākou Hōʻikeʻike Kiʻi Uila ʻo Nā Mele Hawaiʻi.

Back to top / Kaʻa i luna

Hawaiian Hula Dancers & Musicians / Nā Mea Hula a Hoʻokani Pila Hawaiʻi
From Eaton Magoon’s Collection / Mai ka ʻOhina a Eaton Magoon

Resources at the Archives / Nā Kūmole ma ka Hale Akewika:
Photograph Collection, Ref No. PP-32-9a-037 / Waihona Paʻi Kiʻi, Helu Kuhi. PP-32-9a-037

Download the high-resolution scan of this photograph from the Hawaiian Music Online Photograph Exhibition. See other similar photographs in our Hawaiian Music Online Photograph Exhibition.

Hoʻoili i ke kiʻi miomio loa i paʻi uila ʻia ma ka Hōʻikeʻike Kiʻi Uila ʻo Nā Mele Hawaiʻi. E nānā i nā kiʻi ʻano like ma kō mākou Hōʻikeʻike Kiʻi Uila ʻo Nā Mele Hawaiʻi.

Back to top / Kaʻa i luna

Hawaiian Hula Dancers / Nā Mea Hula Hawaiʻi

Resources at the Archives / Nā Kūmole ma ka Hale Akewika:
Photograph Collection, Ref No. PP-33-1-001 / Waihona Paʻi Kiʻi, Helu Kuhi. PP-33-1-001

Download the high-resolution scan of this photograph from the Hawaiian Music Online Photograph Exhibition. See other similar photographs in our Hawaiian Music Online Photograph Exhibition.

Hoʻoili i ke kiʻi miomio loa i paʻi uila ʻia ma ka Hōʻikeʻike Kiʻi Uila ʻo Nā Mele Hawaiʻi. E nānā i nā kiʻi ʻano like ma kō mākou Hōʻikeʻike Kiʻi Uila ʻo Nā Mele Hawaiʻi.

Back to top / Kaʻa i luna

He Inoa no Kaleleonalani / Name Chant for Queen Emma (for hula dancing)
He Inoa no Kaleleonālani / He Mele Inoa no ka Mōʻiwahine Emma (no ka hula)
From the Theodore Kelsey Manuscript Collection
Mai ka ʻOhina Palapala a Theodore Kelsey

 

Resources at the Archives / Nā Kūmole ma ka Hale Akewika:
M86 Theodore Kelsey Manuscript Collection, Ref No. M86-17-406, page 2
M86 ʻOhina Palapala a Theodore Kelsey, Helu Kuhi. M86-17-406, ʻaoʻao 2

View and download this item and other Selections from Theodore Kelsey’s Manuscript Collection.
E nānā a e hoʻili i kēia kiʻi me haʻi ma Nā Koho mai ka ʻOhina Palapala a Theodore Kelsey.

Back to top / Kaʻa i luna

Malanai Ann ka Makani / Malanai Anu ka Makani
From the Theodore Kelsey Manuscript Collection
Mai ka ʻOhina Palapala a Theodore Kelsey

 

 
Resources at the Archives / Nā Kūmole ma ka Hale Akewika:
M86 Theodore Kelsey Manuscript Collection, Ref No. M86-18-437
M86 ʻOhina Palapala a Theodore Kelsey, Helu Kuhi. M86-18-437

View and download this item and other Selections from Theodore Kelsey’s Manuscript Collection.
E nānā a e hoʻili i kēia kiʻi me haʻi ma Nā Koho mai ka ʻOhina Palapala a Theodore Kelsey.

Back to top / Kaʻa i luna

Ka Lia Kamanawa / Ka Lī a Kamanawa
From He Buke Mele, no na lii, Ainahau Villa, June 17, 1881 of the Paul Markham Kahn Collection
Mai He Buke Mele, no na lii, ʻĀinahau Hale, Iune 17, 1881 o ka ʻOhina Palapala a Paul Markham Kahn

 

 

Resources at the Archives / Nā Kūmole ma ka Hale Akewika:
Paul Markham Kahn Collection, Ref No. KAHN 34/66, page 4
ʻOhina Palapala a Paul Markham Kahn, Helu Kuhi. KAHN 34/66, ʻaoʻao 4

View and download this item and other Mele from the Paul Markham Kahn Collection.
E nānā a e hoʻili i kēia kiʻi me haʻi ma Mele mai ka ʻOhina Palapala a Paul Markham Kahn.

Back to top

Videos / Wikiō

 
Moʻokūʻauhau: linking the past, present, and future


Alyssa Purcell, a Ph.D. Student in Political Science at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, recites a portion of Her Majesty Queen Liliʻuokalaniʻs moʻokūʻauhau, which had been documented on June 9, 1896 in support of her claim as the “heir of all properties and lands belonging to the Kamehamehas” (p. 52). This performance demonstrates how moʻokūʻauhau—beyond simply “genealogy”—is an engagement between the past, present, and future. Purcell speaks to the foundational role of moʻokūʻauhau in shaping Hawaiian identity and stresses the importance of engaging with our ancestors through archival research.

Videography/Editing by: Hauana Productions


He Mele No Hanalei na Devin Kamealoha Forrest

Keʻelikōlani He Inoa

Mele, Hawaiian poetry and song, is the collective memory of Kanaka Hawaiʻi spanning generations and lifetimes. Mele has recorded history, lives, deaths, and changes in nature and government. Emerson once expressed, “The most telling record of a peopleʻs intimate life is the record which it unconsciously makes in its songs. This record which the Hawaiian people have left of themselves is full and specific.”

The Hawaiʻi State Archives digitizing of their mele collections makes available a memory bank spanning centuries. While some of these mele may not be meant for public performance or whose poetic expression and meaning has been lost, they provide to our present generation, knowledge that can be used to further our understanding of our island home. These mele contain place names and poetic references that were previously unknown or uncommon to the wider populace.

This knowledge is not limited in value to composers and kumu hula. Certain place names and their appended poetic description assist those doing land and environmental research to better understand the location during the period in which that mele was composed. Even beyond research and hula, the digitizing of these collections will make the generally inaccessible history captured in this collection more available to all who live both in Hawai'i and beyond. The places and poetic expressions will live again in new mele, maps, and modern forms of expression. As more mele are digitized and the database is utilized, old knowledge will undoubtedly be made new again in a way that is applicable and available for centuries to come.

Kumu Hula Devin Kamealoha Forrest and Hālau Hula ʻo Keʻalalauaʻeomakana perform He Mele No Hanalei and Keʻelikōlani He Inoa based on research out of the Henry Kekahuna/Kelsey Manuscript Collections at Hawaiʻi State Archives.

The Language of Kanikau


Kimo Alama Keaulana is a Kumu ‘Ike Hawai’i and Kumu Hula at Punahou School. Kimo celebrates teaching hula for 50 years this year. His contributions to mele include collections deposited most notably at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Bishop Museum Archives, and elsewhere. His research and study of kanikau started with Rubellite Kawena Johnson over 20 years ago and continues.

Pualeilani


This mele honoring Prince Jonah Kuhiō Kalanianaʻole was found in the Hawaiian language newspaper Kuokoʻa and put to music by Kahauanu Lake. It was passed down to his protege Walter Kawaiaeʻa and choreographed by Kumu Pohai Souza and danced by her halau Kamamolikolehua.

Talk story about Pualeilani


Just a brief history of Kuhiō Kalanianaʻole, his marriage, his life and his home called Pualeilani.

Back to top / Kaʻa i luna