This mele (Hawaiian poetry), often attributed to Kauaʻi, informs the methodology of this project. Through ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, the native language of Hawaiʻi, mele like this depict the many forms of our natural environment and how we as kānaka relate to them. This mele, in particular, highlights the akua (deity) Kāne and the many forms of water that he manifests.
Presented below is a version of He Mele No Kāne. To learn more about this mele, check out this resource from Kamehameha Schools and this section of Unwritten Literature of Hawaiʻi (Emerson 1909).
Paukū 1
He ui, he ninau
E ui aku ana au ia oe
Aia i hea ka wai a Kane
Aia i kahikina a ka la
Puka i Haehae
Aia i laila ka wai a Kane
Paukū 4
E ui aku ana au ia oe
Aia i hea ka wai a Kane
Aia i kai
I ka moana
I ke kualau
I ke anuenue
I ka punohu
I ka ua koko
I ka alewalewa
Aia i laila ka wai a Kane
Paukū 2
E ui aku ana au ia oe
Aia i hea ka wai a Kane
Aia i Kaulana a ka la
I ka pae opua i ke kai
Ea mai ana ma Nihoa
Ma ka mole mai o Lehua
Aia i laila ka wai a Kane
Paukū 5
E ui aku ana au ia oe
Aia i hea ka wai a Kane
Aia i luna ka wai a Kane
I ke ouli
I ke ao eleele
I ke ao panopano
I ke ao popolo hua mea a Kane la e
Aia i laila ka wai a Kane
Paukū 3
E ui aku ana au ia oe
Aia i hea ka wai a Kane
Aia i ke kuahiwi
I ke kualono
I ke awawa
I ke kahawai
Aia i laila ka wai a Kane
Paukū 6
E ui aku ana au ia oe
Aia i hea ka wai a Kane
Aia i lalo
I ka honua
I ka wai hu
I ka wai kau a Kane me Kanaloa
He waipuna
He wai e inu
He wai e mana
He wai e ola
E ola no ea