University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo doctorate candidate Nicholas “Kealiʻi” Lum is popping social media right into a classroom for cultural deepening simply in time for Mahina ‘Ōlelo Hawaiʻi, or Hawaiian Language Month.
“Hiʻona Haku Mele,” Lum’s new Instagram video collection, invitations individuals to discover the poetic soul of Hawaiian music, going past conversational speech to uncover the distinctive lexical phrases that make mele, or songs, distinct.
You can watch the first video now on Instagram.
“There are specific pieces of language and ways of expression that make mele unique and separate it from common speech,” Lum defined, including that he was impressed by Kahikina De Silva, an assistant professor at University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa’s Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language, who really useful he doc these poetic gadgets in his dissertation.
“Hiʻona Haku Mele” launched Feb. 1 @pewamusic and @kanaeokana on Instagram. New episodes dropped each Monday and Thursday all through the month.
Each minute-long video highlights a selected time period, explains its operate and offers examples from recorded albums.
Lum notes that whereas spoken Hawaiian and “mele language” share a basis, Hawaiian haku mele, or composers, use musical jargon to convey concepts extra descriptively or poetically.
“Our kūpuna had ways of expressing emotion in a far more beautiful way than saying something so literal,” he stated.
“Hiʻona Haku Mele” goals to teach aspiring haku mele and music lovers alike by highlighting these linguistic gadgets and transferring past literal translations to embrace the metaphorical richness of Hawaiian tradition and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.
The initiative is only one a part of Lum’s broader educational and inventive journey.
As a doctoral scholar at Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language, he was not too long ago named the primary recipient of the Daniel and Lydia Makuakāne Endowed Scholarship and Fellowship.
This award honors the Makuakāne household’s lifelong advocacy for ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi and helps students devoted to indigenous language revitalization.
The fellowship helps Lum’s dissertation “Pewa: I Ola ka ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi i Kona Mele ʻia” — “Pewa: So That the Hawaiian Language Lives through Its Song” — and his album “Pewa.”
Lum thinks mele is “logogenic,” that means the phrases have extra weight than the musical remedy. His work bridges the hole for youthful generations, proving that conventional language can thrive inside trendy soundscapes.
With the help of nonprofit Kāhuli Leo Leʻa and Kanaeokana community, “Hiʻona Haku Mele” is greater than only a musical or lexical lesson, it’s an lively observe of rejuvenation.
“We wanted to put out more content that is accurate and closely related to the vision we have for revitalization,” stated Lum.
Follow the collection on Instagram @pewamusic to look at the newest episodes.
E aʻo like kākou — allow us to be taught collectively.
February is Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, Hawaiian Language Month, which is aimed toward drawing consideration to the rising vitality of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. This story was produced by University of Hawai’i News and is being shared by Big Island Now. You can learn the unique story here.
