Hawaiian Chants and Mele


Hawaiian Chants and Mele

Hawaiian Chants, otherwise known as Mele are probably my favorite thing about Hawaiian music and culture. The Mele is the second part of Hula, the first being the Hula dance. The chants are a way of keeping Hawaiian tradition alive and preserving history. Thats why these are my favorite! They keep Hawaiian tradition alive as time changes, and now, change is happening faster than ever. 

The Hawaiian people have no written records, but the society and culture of Hawaii was so complex. The Hawaiian people memorized and passed down information from generation to generation. 

 Common themes of Hawaiian chants family histories, local tales, religious beliefs and myths and legends. It is said that the call of Hawaiian chants bring healing to your heart and soul. 

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 This picture is from a Hula performance I attended. The chant spoke of an old legend about a fisherman and the sea. 
A little bit of history about the chants is that originally, they were not accompanied by instruments. Now, they can either be accompanied by instruments or not.    

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Another thing I love about Hawaiian Mele is that it is not focused on one specific time period. Mele reflects over many different cultures and time periods of Hawaii. Mele has remained untouched by other cultures throughout time, and that is what makes it my favorite. The chants are preformed in the Hawaiian language with Hawaiian instruments in traditional Hawaiian instruments, and that is what defines the music. 











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