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Chants

PKOChants for Kaho`olawe

The following chants were written by the Edith Kanaka`ole Foundation unless otherwise noted. These chants are to be used only on Kaho`olawe and are kapu anywhere else. They are sacred to the Hawaiian culture and the ceremony of Kanaloa.

Cultural Protocol #1: Protocol for Approaching Kaho`olawe Island

  1. Purpose: The following protocol is perscribed for the purpose of requesting permission to pae onto Kanaloa-Kaho`olawe.
  2. Frequency: To be done each time a party approaches Kaho`olawe with the intent to land by any means of transport.
  3. Procedure:
      1. A trained cultural practitioner or a member of the arriving party will call out for permission to land by chanting the Mele Komo.
      2. The Haku`ili, Na`alapa or delegated representative will grant permission by responding with the Mele Kahea.
      3. Failure to request permission or to land before permission is granted will be considered a breach of protocol. The receiving individual(s) on land is bound by obligations of hospitality to grant permission to the visitors to land if the Mele Komo is delivered properly. A landing rejection is possible.
    Mele KomoHe haki nu`anu`a nei kai
    `o `awa ana i uka
    Pehea e hiki aku ai
    `O ka leo
    Mai pa`a i ka leo    		 Request to EnterIndeed a rough and crashing sea
    echoing into the uplands
    How is it that the one lands
    It is the voice
    Please don’t hold back the voice.
    Mele Kahea`Ane hiki mai, `ane hiki mai
    `oukou lehua lanalana o Kanaloa
    E pae, e pae
    Eia la ka leo… `Ae    		 Welcoming ChantYou are almost here, almost here
    you brave ones so bouyant on the sea of Kanaloa
    Land, land
    Here is the voice… Yes

    Cultural Protocol #2: Protocol for Departure from Kaho`olawe Island

    1. Purpose: The following protocol is perscribed for the purpose of requesting departure from Kaho`olawe each time a party prepares to depart.
    2. Participants:
      1. Departing Individual(s)
      2. Haku`ili, Na`alapa or delegated representative that will remain on island.
    3. Procedure:
      1. A trained cultural practitioner or delegated representative of the departing group will request leave by means of the Noi `A`ama.
      2. The Haku`ili, Na`alapa or delegated representative will release the requesting individual(s) by responding with the Mele Ho`oku`u.
      3. The protocol is complete at the conclusion of the Mele Ho`oku`u.
    Ke Noi `A`ama`O `Awe-kuhi o kai uli
    kuhikau, kuhikau
    E homai i `a`ama
    i `a`ama aha
    i `a`ama `ia au    		 Request for ReleasePointing tentacle of the deep sea
    direct, direct
    Grant also an `a`ama
    and `a`ama for what
    releasing me from my obligation as your guest.
    Mele Ho`oku`uKu `oe a hele, noho au
    o hele `oe, o hele `oe
    a, ua hele la    		 Chant of ReleaseRise up and take leave, I will remain
    go, go
    see, you have already left.

    E Ala E: The Sun Rise Ceremony, is chanted early in the morning to aid the sun in its efforts to start a new day.

    E ala e, ka lä i ka hikina
    I ka moana, ka moana hohonu
    Pi`i i ka lewa, ka lewa nu`u
    I ka hikina, aia a ka lä, e ala e!

    Rise up the sun is in the east
    In the ocean, the deep ocean
    Climbs to the sky, the great height of the sky
    In the east, there is the sun, rise up!

    E Hö mai ka `ike, has circulated throughout the island and is used frequently during Makahiki.

    E hö mai ka `ike, mai luna mai e
    O nä mea huna no`eau o nä mele e
    E hö mai, e hö mai, e hä mai e.

    -/-

    Grant me knowledge from above
    Of the elusive words of wisdom within the chants
    Grant me, grant me, grant me.