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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
 Posted - 11/04/2010 : 3:09:56 PM
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I do not know if it is my imagination, but it seems to me that there are many, many mele that make reference in one way or another to the lehua flower. Is there something in the kaona that points to specific use of that beautiful flower in the poetry? I certainly understand that a mele pana might make reference to that flower when speaking of the Big Island. Or a love song might make reference to it when speaking of a love from that island. But I have heard it referred to in mele that have nothing to do with the Big Island.
Are there other reasons that would speak to such frequent use of that reference?
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Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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keoladonaghy
Lokahi
257 Posts |
Posted - 11/04/2010 : 3:38:35 PM
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Wanda,
While the lehua is the "official" flower of Hawai'i island (and that designation isn't ancient), its use isn't restricted to mele about Hawai'i island or people. Many areas of the state are renown for the lehua, Mt. Ka'ala on Oʻahu for one. Look up the word "lehu", and note particularly #3 in the P/E dictionary. The "a" in there can be a passive marker, like 'ia, -hia, and -kia. So a composer can use lehua and have multiple levels of meaning from that one word. I've used it in mele where there is not connection to Hawai‘i island. |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 11/05/2010 : 01:20:34 AM
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| Thank you for providing insight, Keola. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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Pua Lehua in Mele
