| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Leolani
Aloha
3 Posts |
 Posted - 10/09/2007 : 03:50:52 AM
|
Aloha. I came across this website by accident. I'm responding to something written about "Sam Lia Kala`ainaina" and the song, Hi`ilawe. I know the true story of Hi’ilawe. Sam Li’a was my granduncle. We were very close to him. I did a college report on Waipi'o in 1972 and recorded Grandpa Sam singing Hi'ilawe, with tears streaming down his cheeks as he related the story.
Anyway, to make corrections: His name is Sam Li'a Kala'inaina.
Li'a was actually his pen name, which everyone knew him by.
Kala'inaina was his grandmother's name. Sam's grandfather was the original Purdy who had Sam's father on one of his trips to Waipi'o.
Although Sam’s father was illegitimate and did not carry the Purdy name, Purdy visited them, Sam's father knew his father and considered himself a Purdy. He was his father’s favorite son, as mentioned in the song, Hi’ilawe.
Hi'ilawe was written by Sam's FATHER in the late 1880's. Grandpa Sam spoke with pride of his father whom everyone throughout the islands knew as the “Songwriter of Waipi’o”. People came from all around to ask for his chants and meles. One of his father’s cousins sent a message for him to prepare some songs for Kalakaua’s coronation. The cousin came from Honolulu to pick up the songs. Reports came back that his father’s songs were a big hit at the coronation, but the bearer of the news said that Sam’s father was not mentioned as the author of those songs. His cousin took all the credit.
Grandpa Sam would not have wanted to take credit for writing Hi’ilawe, as it was his father’s personal love song for a woman whom Sam and his siblings did not care for as she was replacing the memory of their mother who had died.
I'm glad that Grandpa Sam is recognized as the great writer and musician that he is, but the documentary on him left out what was important to him: His family and his Church. He and Sarah had one son who died in infancy. Their only daughter, Anna, bore them 4 grandchildren. His granddaughter, Pearl, took care of him, and her sons were his joy.
Also, I think he would be embarrassed about the story of him riding the horse or mule down to the valley in a drunken stupor. That was in his early, reckless years. He and Grandma Sarah joined the Mormon Church and he stayed on the strait and narrow path, serving as music director and organist, besides other callings. Sarah died in her early 50's and he never remarried, although he was a handsome, hardworking man with a cheerful, peaceful disposition. He died in his 90's.
|
|
|
chunky monkey
Ha`aha`a
USA
1022 Posts |
Posted - 10/09/2007 : 05:22:05 AM
|
| great story - thanks for sharing it. Eddie Kamae has a long discussion of Sam Lia in his book "Hawaiian Son". |
 |
|
|
naukilo
Lokahi
USA
103 Posts |
Posted - 10/09/2007 : 05:58:12 AM
|
Aloha Leolani,
Very informative insight on Tutu Sam Li'a Kalainaina II. Of course the documentary you speak of covered the meetings and stories shared by Tutu Sam with Eddie Kamae. Tutu Sam was Eddie Kamae's mentor. All of Tutu Sam's unpublished songs, prior and upon his death, were given to Eddie by Tutu Sam to perform, record, and to be caretaker of after he died.
The documentary touched lightly on the family aspects of Sam but was mainly done to bring out his musical talents and some of the stories shared by Sam's friends who knew him during his youth before his Mormon conversion which was the important turning point in his life and the effects of his poetic writing.
Today, Tutu Sam's songs are the link to the past and present. His poetic lyrics have been acclaimed by my teacher,the late Tutu Mary Kawena Pukui, to be the last great poetry of the Hawaiian language from the turn of the century and this is what the documentary wanted to bring out.
It is true that Tutu Sam's church and family were important in his life but the most important and foremost contribution to Hawaii today is Tutu Sam's music and writing especially to composers like myself, who study the Hawaiian poetry of the past. It truly was Tutu Sam's gift given to him from both Ke Akua and his father, Sam the elder, that remains to be the most important gift to all the Hawaiian people living today which I cherish as a Haku Mele.
Aloha Ke Akua,
Rev. Dennis D.K. Kamakahi |
|
|
|
wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 10/09/2007 : 10:11:53 AM
|
| Leolani and Dennis: Mahalo nui loa to both of you for sharaing your mana`o regarding the mele and Sam Li`a Kalainaina's life. It gives me chicken skin. The stories behind the mele are so important, and it is a rare treasure for us to see how the song came about and to learn of the history. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
|
|
|
Leolani
Aloha
3 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2007 : 04:31:57 AM
|
Mahalo for all your responses. Just wanted to make sure that Grandpa Sam's life and the Hi'ilawe story was set straight. I don't know if Grandpa Sam's father's name was Samuel also, but I'll find out.
When Eddie Kamae was gathering information about Grandpa Sam, he was referred to me so he phoned me. I wrote a very long letter about Grandpa Sam's life and my very good friend hand-carried the letter to Eddie, who was jamming at her neighbor's house.
In my college days, I camped in a little shed on Grandpa Sam's land down in Waipi'o Valley. I spent a lot of time visiting with him in Kukuihaele and in Honoka'a, talking to him about his life and about our family. He was writing a song for me and Cousin Pearl told me that he was almost done. When he died, I never asked for it because I was too shame to ask. We were trained never to ask Grandpa Sam for anything because he would give you whatever you asked for.
Many people visited him because he was a living legend in the Waipi'o-Kukuihaele-Honoka'a area. In the old Hawaiian style, if somebody sees something and comments about its beauty or yearning for it, the owner would give it...even if it were a child. Grandpa Sam gave away artifacts and many valuable things, much to the distress of his family. One time he gave away his poi pounder which he still used, just because somebody asked. He knew the true meaning of the story of "Kanaka Waiwai", eternal life and aloha.
Grandpa Sam's music and writing may seem like his foremost contribution to Hawaii, but to me, Sam Li'a, the man, is his legacy.
Talent is fleeting, but character is everlasting.
I know that Grandpa Sam wanted these things to be set straight. Yesterday morning, I sent off the first message on this forum. At noon, I opened a box from my sister in Honolulu. Among the papers, was a beautiful letter from Grandpa Sam written in 1964 to my eldest sister (now deceased). He enclosed a song about Waipi'o that he completed upon his return from her wedding on Maui. The letter begins with "Gracious, loveful children" and was written with pure love and gratitude for the hospitality shown him.
Mahalo for this forum. It has inspired me to gather my information about Grandpa Sam and put it together for his family. Now that I'm nearing that "kupuna age"... or maybe I'm already in it... I'm beginning to feel the necessity of preserving and connecting with things of my culture, history, family and ancestors.
Aloha, Lani |
|
|
|
markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2007 : 11:45:10 AM
|
Aloha Leolani,
Thank you so much for your beautiful contribution. It truly is a priceless story, one which is very important to tell. "Hi'ilawe" is so important to us all and to me personally. I can truthfully say that I can remember exactly where I was when I first heard it, about 12 years ago. Before hearing "Hi'ilawe" I wasn't very much aware of the beauty of Hawaiian music. Since "Hi'ilawe" both I and my wife have become consumed by Hawaiian music. She has been dancing Hula for over 2 years and I have become a collector of vintage Hawaiian LPs. This has given us both enormous enjoyment. It has expanded our appreciation of Hawaiian culture with all of it's subtleties still to be learned and appreciated by us two mainlanders. All because of this song. For me, this journey started with "Hi'ilawe". |
"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
|
|
|
Kapila Kane
Ha`aha`a
USA
1051 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2007 : 2:04:41 PM
|
I find this very interesting....
Dennis Kamakahi was explaining the Sam Lia who played violin....
and I still get it messed up, as to which generation was the famous songwriter, and which was the violinist in a big band from early in the 20th or late in the 19th century.
Also, I met someone at baggage claim after flying to Denver (who saw my Kahumoku camp shirt) from Seattle on Labor Day weekend...and she asked if I played Ki Ho Alu,....and I said, I try!!!...she quickly explained about Hawaiian family connections....included a Sam...? Then off to our families and cars...
Is there any family here in Colorado?
No matta...this is good story, and glad you found the Taropatch.
Gordon
|
|
|
|
Leolani
Aloha
3 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2007 : 11:17:51 PM
|
Grandpa Sam, Samuel Kala'inaina or Sam Li'a as most people knew him, learned to play the violin while attending Lahainaluna on Maui. He was in high school when Queen Liliuokalani was overthrown and died around 1975, in his 90's.
Sam Li'a was known as the "Songwriter of Waipi'o" in my mother's generation... from 1920's on, but Grandpa Sam claimed that it was his father who was the great "Songwriter of Waipi'o", and that he just inherited the title because he wrote songs. After the older generation died out and didn't remember his father, his father's works got credited to him. That's why all the confusion of when Hi'ilawe was written and its meaning.
He pumehana i ku'u poli, Lani |
|
|
|
hwnmusiclives
`Olu`olu
USA
580 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2007 : 02:37:03 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by Leolani
Grandpa Sam, Samuel Kala'inaina or Sam Li'a as most people knew him, learned to play the violin while attending Lahainaluna on Maui. He was in high school when Queen Liliuokalani was overthrown and died around 1975, in his 90's.
Dennis wrote the beautiful "Kanaka Waiolina" about this facet of Grandpa Sam's artistic life.
|
Join me for the history of Hawaiian music and its musicians at Ho`olohe Hou at www.hoolohehou.org. |
|
|
|
Hula Rider
Lokahi
USA
215 Posts |
Posted - 10/22/2007 : 12:44:33 PM
|
Mahalo no for sharing some of the legacy of your kupuna.
Malama pono,
Leilehua |
|
|
|
Hula Rider
Lokahi
USA
215 Posts |
Posted - 10/23/2007 : 08:22:02 AM
|
Aloha e Leolani -
I am trying to e-mail you, but I can only log in one post at a time. When I try to do the general log-in, I get bounced back out, so I cannot e-mail via your profile. If you don't mind, would you please e-mail me at YuenL008 @ Hawaii.rr.com (zero-zero-eight, not oh-oh-eight).
Mahalo!
Leilehua |
|
|
|
alika207
Ha`aha`a
USA
1260 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2007 : 02:28:14 AM
|
| E kala mai no. I had always thought that Gabby wrote this song, as that's what it said on Tropical Storm Hawai'i when I looked up the lyrics. |
He kehau ho'oma'ema'e ke aloha.
'Alika / Polinahe |
|
|
|
hawaiianmusiclover06
`Olu`olu
USA
562 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2007 : 3:13:14 PM
|
Aloha mai e Leolani! Mahalo nui for sharing your mana'o on Hi'ilawe and for sharing the legacy of your kupuna. Hi'ilawe has always been one of my favorite songs that I listen to.
Alana :) |
Aloha Kakou, maluhia a me aloha mau loa (Hello everyone, peace and love forever) |
Edited by - hawaiianmusiclover06 on 11/10/2007 3:13:52 PM |
|
|
|
Lawrence
Ha`aha`a
USA
1597 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2007 : 09:40:18 AM
|
One sad thing is that the song talks about the majestic twin waterfalls of Hi'ilawe that have flowed for thousands of years. But now, because of demands upon the water supply, most of the water has been taken and there is only one small waterfall remaining.
You don't know what you've got till it's gone.
|
Mahope Kākou...
...El Lorenzo de Ondas Sonoras |
|
|
|
rendesvous1840
Ha`aha`a
USA
1055 Posts |
|
|
wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 11/13/2007 : 03:44:34 AM
|
I have been re-reading Na Mele o Hawai`i Nei, collected by Samuel Elbert and Noelani Mahoe, published in 1970.
Regarding Hi`ilawe, he says, "Composed by Mrs. Kuakini, this song, formerly known as "Hali`alaulani", is most effective with slack-key accompaniment. It concerns a girl from Puna who has a love affair at Hi`ilawe waterfall in Waipi`o, Hawai`i. The chattering birds may refer to gossips. The shifting from first to third person adds to the subtlety and hence in Hawaiian eyes to the charm of the song. The girl, who is not bashful, calls herself uhiwai, hiwahiwa (or milimili), lei `a`i and `ala i hali `ia mai.".
Who was Mrs. Kuakini and why does she take credit for this mele when all other sources accredit it to Sam Li`a? What made Elbert an expert on Hawaiian language, inasmuch as he was malihini? I understand that he worked closely with Kawena Pukui and co-authored the dictionary with her. I am now wondering how accurate Na Mele of Hawai`i Nei is. If the part about Hi`ilawe is wrong, how much of the other stuff is wrong? |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
Edited by - wcerto on 11/13/2007 03:45:29 AM |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
|
|
Topic Locked
