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noeau
Ha`aha`a
USA
1105 Posts |
 Posted - 05/23/2007 : 12:29:48 PM
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| One needs to understand the concept of kaona. That is hidden meaning. A song can have literal meaning and some naughty meaning as well. Hawaiin culture is very natural. The idea of procreation and prowess in things sexual were quite often honored. As in hula ma'i for example. The Kampua'a legends tell of his use of his snout to penetrate the earth is another of this sort of thing in Hawaiian culture. Fertility was very important to Hawaiian people. Symbolism was coded into chant and music. And the kaona was often overlooked or not understood. Therefore songs with hidden meaning were often played on the radio. |
No'eau, eia au he mea pa'ani wale nō. |
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hapakid
Luna Ho`omalu
USA
1533 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2007 : 12:48:24 PM
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A lot of songs have literal or figurative language about cuddling, lovemaking, procreating, etc. But each song is different. The mele ma'i were funloving, but the songs were written for an ali'i baby, not for an adult, which would be in poor taste. Kaona, some subtle and some obvious, can be about sexual enjoyment, but much of it is hidden out of discretion, to keep things pono. "Ahi Wela" is about loving and mentions "I ka hana a ke aloha", but it is in a dignified setting. I think "Hemo Skin" and a few others are meant to be salacious and not sung around children. Songs like "Manuela Boy" had lyrics that were naughty and others that weren't, so you could sing it according to what kind of gathering you were at.
If you only focused on suggestive kaona and kolohe songs about sex and drinking, you might think that Hawaiian people were morally loose and anything goes. But many Hawaiian people are rigidly moralistic and religious. Even before the contact with outsiders, rules of Hawaiian society and family were important.
Jesse Tinsley
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Edited by - hapakid on 05/23/2007 12:52:44 PM |
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hapakid
Luna Ho`omalu
USA
1533 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2007 : 10:10:51 AM
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The words are coming together! I hope to post a full set of lyrics in a day or so in case anyone wants them. Thanks to b00gedy and Sarah for all their help.
Jesse Tinsley |
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noeau
Ha`aha`a
USA
1105 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2007 : 1:11:27 PM
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Kaona is not not necessarily hidden out of discretion. Kaona may be as simple as a family tradition that is not known to the general public that may be coded into a song and only understood by family members. Sexual connotation again is part of the sacred process of life cycles that exist and are understood to be an integral part of life. Mele ma'i often ended a hula presentation by paying homage to the honoree of said hula presentation. For example a mele ma'i no Kalakaua This mele was for a Mo'i who definitely was an adult. Also the kind of discretion in presenting sexually explicit mele might be an imposition of christian morality rather than Hawaiian morality as practiced by a pre-contact Hawaiian. One should not assume the Hawaiian people were immoral because they honored a life process that insured the survival of a group of people who lived in an environment that was not always friendly to the people who lived in it.
Modern times may dictate that performance of songs with procreative connotations be more discreet is understandable. However it should not be because of religious mores nor should we base the behavior on modern context alone. |
No'eau, eia au he mea pa'ani wale nō. |
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hapakid
Luna Ho`omalu
USA
1533 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2007 : 2:34:37 PM
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I agree, noeau. There are many forms of kaona, including language, intent, local idiomatic expressions, symbolism and regional language differences. There was definitely some Christian morality imposed in my family (like many families) but there were moral and religious codes that pre-date the Christianity brought by missionaries.
Some have said that "Kaua Ka Huahua'i" is a naughty not sung in polite company, but the song continues as a Hawaiian standard because of Johnny Noble's catching arrangement and because it was written by one of Na Lani 'Eha. So the concept of kolohe varies from song to song and era to era.
Jesse Tinsley |
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hapakid
Luna Ho`omalu
USA
1533 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2007 : 8:26:27 PM
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As promised, thanks to the TP crew, here are the lyrics to the recording I posted:
Hemo Skin
Tonight’s the night to hemo skin
Some people say it so good (2nd time: such a sin)
When I come home at night my Mommy ask me where I been
Mommy I was busy hemo skin.
While walking on the beach one night
There was no one (else?) in sight
My ‘uku girl and I lay down with a big big sigh
Oh baby won’t you hemo my daddy.
Everybody’s eating lalilali [definition: wet, slippery & shiny]
Because it tastes just like tomalley (lobster innards)or "tamale"
When I come home at night my Mommy ask me where I been
Mommy I was eating lalilali
Everybody’s eating ‘opihi
Because it tastes like (just like) sashimi - I told you!
When I come home at night my Mommy ask me where I been
Mommy I was eating ‘opihi
Everybody’s eating liliko’i
That is the Hawaiian passion fruit - Yeah!
When I come home at night my Mommy ask me where I been
Mommy I was (busy) eating liliko’i.
Ha’ina mai ka puana
No ka nani o ka beautiful o ka hemoskin
Tonight we make a pau, tomorrow we ‘au‘au
That’s the story of my hemo skin.
Thanks to b00gedy, here are additional lyrics that were contributed:
"She looked at me and said OK
We can Hemo Skin tonight
But tomorrow when we pau, we have a big luau
After we go to the church and get married
When I was pau Hemo I ran away
I ain’t going marry her, no way!
I gotta put inside before I can decide
I just like Hemo Skin
I went down to Waikiki
Looking for someone to Hemo me
Every girl that said OK, wanted me to pay
But I no moa money so no can Hemo Skin"
Some have pointed out that even these lyrics aren't really vulgar, but when I posed the question of lyrics a few years back, TP member huiohana responded with these additional lyrics:
Oh daddy, daddy what is that
hanging down like a baseball bat
Daughter, Daughter don't say that
this is what makes mommy fat
this is what we use to "hemo skin".
Oh mommy mommy what is that
Between your legs and kind of fat.
Daughter, daughter don't say that
this is mommy's pussycat
this what I use to "hemo-skin".
Thanks to Sarah, b00gedy and everyone who gave it a listen and contributed. I feel like we have a definitive lyric sheet for posterity.
The second voice on the recording is Joe Keawe's half brother, David Chun who wrote "E Huli Makou" and "Kau'ionalani".
Jesse Tinsley
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Edited by - hapakid on 05/24/2007 8:32:03 PM |
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hikabe
Lokahi
USA
358 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2007 : 1:52:33 PM
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How can you think there is a kaona to this song. It is plain and simple. It is a playful silly song about sex with a "South Park" cartoon mentality. Vulgarity is the point of the song, meant to titilate the listener. It is popular not because of it's musical merit, but for it's playful way of acknowledging a taboo subject.
Wanda... There is no compunction to sing nasty songs in any language. Nasty songs are not exclusive to Hawaii. People are nasty all over the world.
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Stay Tuned... |
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hapakid
Luna Ho`omalu
USA
1533 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2007 : 2:14:36 PM
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When I was kid, we giggled when Chuck Berry sang "My Dingaling". We all grow up eventually.
Jesse |
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hikabe
Lokahi
USA
358 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2007 : 4:12:47 PM
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| No lie! You still giggle when you play my dingaling. Or your dingaling!?. whatever |
Stay Tuned... |
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sandman
Lokahi
USA
181 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2007 : 6:55:19 PM
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hehehehe  |
Leap into the boundless and make it your home.
Zhuang-zi |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2007 : 07:28:12 AM
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| Jesse, Hiram and all. Please do not think I am making a morality judgement -- I am not. I was simply pointing out some differences in social mores. I "naughty" songs tickle me. There need to be light-hearted songs as a complement to the serious ones. I really do love seeing hula for some of these songs...really shows the rascal-ness. Music may be universal but s-e-x is more universal. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2007 : 07:43:29 AM
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| I will NEVER forget seeing Uncle George Naope dance "Tewetewe" at a late-night party following a hula competition. I doubt I will ever see a performance that can compare. And the song's meaning became VERY clear to me at that moment. |
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noeau
Ha`aha`a
USA
1105 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2007 : 8:58:07 PM
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| Yah. The part about kaona took us off of the subject. But Wanda asked about cultural differences and so kaona came up as one explanation of hidden meaning in Hawaiian songs. As I stated before kaona can be many thin gs not just risque topics. |
No'eau, eia au he mea pa'ani wale nō. |
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