Kū mau mai ka nani i Mānoa nei Wehiwehi i ka ʻahu o te Tuahine Hiʻia ka manaʻo i ka maluhia Ilihia i ka hano aʻo Kūaliʻi ē |
Beauty abides here in Mānoa Adorned with the cloak of the Tuahine rain The heart is embraced by the peacefulness Touched by the grandeur of Kūaliʻi |
Enduring here the beauty in Mānoa Festive the cape of the Goddess of Rain Holding the thought of peace Reverent of the honor of Kūaliʻi |
ʻO ka pā kōnane a ka mahina ʻO Māhealani ke hoʻomāʻike Lamalama maila ka pua kokiʻo I ka māla keʻokeʻo o ke aumoe |
The glowing touch of the full moon Māhealani offers a presentation The hibiscus have a luminous glow A garden of white in the midnight hour |
The enclosure of bright light of the full moon Māhealani is giving a show Glowing here the hibiscus flower In the white garden at midnight |
Kū aʻe, kū nihi, kū paʻa mau Ka paia ʻeʻehia o Kūkaʻōʻō Kiaʻi haʻaheo o ka ʻāina I laila nā maka e huli ai |
Standing above, standing steep, standing forever The awe-inspiring walls of Kūkaʻōʻō Proud guardian to watch over the land Where thoughts and hopes are placed |
Standing up, standing steep, standing forever The awe-inspiring wall of Kūkaʻōʻō Proud watchman of the land There the views of changes |
Kānaenae ka leo o loko nei Me he kāhuli lā o ka wao nahele He aloha, he haliʻa, e hiʻipoli mau Ke kipona pilina i Mānoa nei ē |
There is a voice of supplication in the heart Entrancing as a trilling forest land shell An expression of affection, a remembrance to treasure The powerful tie to this place, Mānoa |
Chant of the heart's voice With a snail shell of the forest land A love, a remembrance, held to the breast The intense connection to this place, Mānoa |
He Mele Aloha no Sam and Mary Cooke | A chant of affection for Sam and Mary Cooke | A chant of love for Sam and Mary Cooke |
—na Puakea Nogelmeier, 2010
Halau Hula o Mānoa is honored to perform for you this evening He Mele No Kūaliʻi. This mele was composed by Puakea Nogelmeier at the request of Sam and Mary Cooke and first presented at their 50th wedding anniversary in 2010 and has become the house chant. The Cooke family has been active in the diverse history of Hawaiʻi since the arrival of Amos and Juliette Cooke as missionary teachers in 1837. They were directly involved in mission activities and continued to live at this site into the 1890s, long after the mission had been disbanded. Sam and Mary continued their family heritage of giving back to our communities by establishing Mānoa Heritage Center on the site of their family home in Mānoa Valley.Listen and watch as we draw you to Kūaliʻi, the house, the grounds, and the place. Walk with us into the White Garden and see how the moonlight shines into the garden. See the heiau Kūkaʻōʻō and think of the original heiau that lay dormant for so long but was not torn down, and was then protected and restored by the Cooke family, returning it to its place of honor. Listen as these places sing to us gently like the kahuli of the forest, stirring memories of what was, what is being restored, what we hold dear, and our connection to place.
Aloha kakahiaka. We are Halau Hula o Mānoa and would like to share with you a mele honoring this site. He Mele No Kūaliʻi was composed by Puakea Nogelmeier at the request of Sam and Mary Cooke, who sought to preserve this site a place of remembrance for the rich heritage of this valley and our Hawaiian islands.Listen as we chant of Kūaliʻi, the house, the grounds, and the place. Walk with us into ka māla keʻokeʻo, the White Garden, and see how the moonlight shines into the garden. See Kūkaʻōʻō, the heiau, and think of the original heiau that lay dormant for so long but was not torn down and was then protected and restored by the Cooke family, returning it to its place of honor. Listen as these places sing to us gently me he kāhuli, like the land shell of the forest, stirring memories of what was, what is being restored, what we hold dear, and our connection to place. This is He Mele No Kūaliʻi.
Email Richard dot J dot Wagner at gmail dot com