 |
To learn more about HPS's rental dance studio, Hale Pulelehua, click here
To listen
or view Kupuna-
related media on this site
requires Windows
Media
Player.
Macintosh users
also
need the Apple
Quick
Time plugin or equivalent
to properly listen to
Pronunciations.
PDF documents on this
site require the Adobe Acrobat Viewer. It can be
found at:
|
|
|
Chant
Name: |
|
 |
Ke Ha`a Ala Puna (Puna is dancing)
|
| First
Line : |
|
|
|
Ke ha`a ala Puna i ka makani
|
| Content
Categories : |
|
| 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 |
|
|
|
Chant
Text (Hawaiian): |
|
Chant
Text (English): |
|
Ke ha`a ala Puna i ka makani
Ha`a ka ulu hala i Kea`au
Ha`a Hä`ena me Höpoe
Ha`a ka wahine `ami i kai o Nänähuki
Hula le`a wale i kai o Nänähuki
Hula le`a wale i kai o Nänähuki
`O Puna kai kuwä i ka hala
Pa`ëpa`ë ka leo o ke kai
Ke ulu la i nä pua lehua
Nänä i kai o Höpoe
Ka wahine `ami i kai o Nänähuki
Hula le`a wale i kai o Nänähuki
Hula le`a wale i kai o Nänähuki
He inoa no Hi`iaka-i-ka-poli-o-Pele
|
|
Puna is dancing in the wind
Dancing are the hala groves at Kea`au
Dancing is Hä`ena with Höpoe
Dancing are the women by the sea of Nänähuki
A dance of joy by the sea of Nänähuki
A dance of joy by the sea of Nänähuki
Puna is where the sea resounds through the hala
The voice of the sea swells
Spreading the lehua blossoms
Behold the revelry of Höpoe
The woman who sways by the sea
A dance of joy by the sea of Nänähuki
A dance of joy by the sea of Nänähuki
In the name of Hi`iaka-in-the-bosom-of-Pele
|
| Source
of
Chant
& Translation: |
|
|
Nona Beamer Collection
|
| Published
Research Sources: |
|
|
Hula: Historical Perspectives (Barrere/Puku`i/Kelly)
- Page 5 notes that Hi`iaka learned the hula from her friend Höpoe. Page 6 notes that Höpoe was changed to a stone in the sea of Nänähuki at Hä`ena, Hawai`i by Pele who was angry with Hi`iaka. Consult Emerson's "Pele and Hi`iaka" for details.
Hula Pahu volume 1 (Kaeppler)
- Pages 7-8 and 15-16 discuss the differences in the terms "ha`a" and "hula", both of which appear in this chant. It is also noted that Pele & Hi`iaka chants are most often accompanied by hand clapping or ipu, rather than pahu.
Sacred Hula: The Historical Hula `Äla`apapa (Stillman)
- Page 67 contains a listing of sound recordings dating back to 1934. Associated hula types for this chant are: Hula Noho, Hula `Ölapa, Hula Kuolo, Hula Ipu, Hula `Aiha`a.
Papa Kuhikuhi (Kaläkaua's Coronation Program)
- The section "Na Ami Honua a Lohiau" has "Ke haa la Puna i ka makani" listed. It is under Kumu Kaonowai's section of dances and is noted as "Hula Olepelepe."
Hawaiian Dictionary (Puku`i/Elbert)
- Definition #2 of "Höpoe" reads "A dancer who was turned into a balancing rock by Pele at Puna, Hawai`i." Definition #2 of "Hä`ena" reads "Place names on Hawai`i, Kaua`i, and O`ahu."
Nä Mele Hula volume 1 (Beamer)
- Pages 72-75 give background on the two verses and the "vigorous" manner in which Nona Beamer chants it. In her hula tradition it is considered 2 ancient hula types: Hula Kü I Luna and Hula Pü`ili. She notes the title as "Dancing is Fragrant Puna."
|
| Additional
Notes : |
|
|
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.
|
| Background
on
Chant
: |
|
This chant tells the story of the first hula in the Big Island. (Moloka`i and Kaua`i also have hula origination legends.) Hi`iaka is the favored sister of Pele and was the first to learn to dance from her poetess friend Höpoe who lived at Hä`ena in Kea`au on the island of Hawai`i. In the chant, Hä`ena is another name used for Hi`iaka.
This chant is in the general type or class of Hula Pele (dances for Pele and family). Its dedication is to Hi`iaka, who was carried by Pele as an egg in her bosom from their mythical home to Hawai`i.
Please see "Published Sources" section above for greater detail on where to find documented research on this chant.
Please also consult the "Kupuna" section at bottom to read and hear what our elders have to share.
|
| Visuals: |
|
 | | Hä`ena Coastline, Kea`au, Hawai`i, 2002 |
 | | Surf at Hä`ena, Kea`au, Hawai`i, 2002 |
 | | Shore near Hä`ena, Kea`au, Hawai`i, 2002 |
|
|
|
|
