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Chant
Name: |
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Nou Paha (Yours perhaps)
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| First
Line : |
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Nou paha e ka inoa
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| Content
Categories : |
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| Ali`i (chiefs, chiefesses) | | Aloha (love) | | Holoholona (animals) | | Mo`olelo (legends and myths) | | Nä Akua (gods and goddesses) |
| | Nature | | Pä`ani (games, pastimes, sport) | | X | Pele `Ohana (volcano goddess and family) | | Wahi Pana (legendary places) | | Other |
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Chant
Text (Hawaiian): |
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Chant
Text (English): |
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Nou paha e ka inoa
E ka`ika`iküana
A kau i ka nuku
E hapahapai a`e
E hapahapai a`e
A pä i ke kihi o Kïlauea
Ilaila ku`u kama o Kunuiäkea
E Pele e Pele e
He inoa no Pele
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Yours perhaps this name
Which people are raising
With loud acclaim
Now raise it
Raise it on high
Till it reaches the innermost recesses of Kïlauea
Enshrined there is my beloved Kunuiäkea
O Pele O Pele
In the name of Pele
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| Source
of
Chant
& Translation: |
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Nona Beamer Collection
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| Published
Research Sources: |
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Unwritten Literature of Hawai`i (Emerson)
- Chapter XXIV "The Hula Pele" references this chant near the chapter's end. Emerson explains this chant was used to offer a ceremonious welcome to the gods and is a mele inoa for Pele. Emerson's text is longer than the Beamer Collection version.
Hula: Historical Perspectives (Barrere/Puku`i/Kelly)
- Chapter "The Hula in Hawaiian Legends" has an extensive writeup on the "Pele & Hi`iaka" myth. While this chant is not specifically mentioned, the reader can still get a sense of the variety of chants associated with Pele and her family.
Hula Pahu volume 1 (Kaeppler)
- Page 183 ties "Nou Paha" to Vivienne Mader, who learned the chant from Nona Beamer as a Hula Pahu. Also referenced is Emerson's writeup of the chant in "Unwritten Literature" and the use of the chant in the Kanaka`ole tradition from Hilo.
Sacred Hula: The Historical Hula `Äla`apapa (Stillman)
- Chapter "Classifications", sub-chapter "Subject Matter: Mele Ali`i, Mele Ho`oheno, Mele Pana, Inoa no ke Akua, Inoa no Pele, Inoa no Hi`iaka, Mele Ma`i" discusses Pele chants in context of hula `äla`apapa. Chant is not specifically mentioned.
Nä Mele Hula volume 1 (Beamer)
- Pages 78-79 give background and Beamer's chant melody. In her hula tradition, it is considered 2 hula types: Hula Noho & Hula Pele. She notes her grandma Helen Desha Beamer used an ipu "flutter" for the introduction instead of a rhythmic beat.
Hawaiian Dictionary (Puku`i/Elbert)
- Definition #6 of "Pele" is "Volcano goddess."
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| Additional
Notes : |
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Several of the published research sources note that this chant is thought to have been composed by long-deceased Kumu Hula Namakeelua.
Since much of the information on this chant comes from families with Hilo hula traditions, Kaeppler surmised (in Hula Pahu v.I) that the chant text may have originated in that area.
Please also consult Nathaniel Emerson's "Pele and Hi`iaka: A Myth from Hawai`i" book for in-depth research on Pele and her family.
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| Background
on
Chant
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This chant is in the general type or class of Hula Pele (dances for Pele) or Inoa no Pele (name chants for Pele). Fortunately, much has been written about it. Please see "Published Sources" section above for greater detail on where to find documented research on this chant. The Vivienne "Huapala" Mader Collection noted in several entries can be found at the Bishop Museum.
Please also consult the "Kupuna" section at bottom to read and hear what our elders have to share.
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| Visuals: |
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 | | Halema`uma`u Crater, Kïlauea caldera, Volcano, Hawai`i |
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Related
Implements/Instruments |
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None
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