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Mele Mahiʻai
Composed by Barbara Dempsey
Inspired by the Hawaiian traditions of Hāloa, (the ancestor of the Hawaiian people and the kalo plant.) The sacred waters of Kāne, referenced in many traditional chants and prayers. Waipiʻo, and the teachings of mālama (to care for) ʻāina (land) and ʻohana (family).
Mele Mahiʻai, the Song of the Farmers, celebrates the life-giving connection between the land, the water, and the people. It is a tribute to Hāloa, our ancestors, and the generations yet to come.
Eia ka ʻōʻō, e ulu hou. (Here is the ʻōʻō bird, grow again)
Eia nā lima o ke kanaka. (Here are the hands of mankind)
Hō mai ka vai, ka vai ola nō (Give us the water, the water of life)
Bring forth the water, water of life
Flowing from Kāne through day and night
Hō mai ka ʻuala, food from the land
Kalo and fish by loving hands
Chorus
E ola ka hāloa (Long live Hāloa=taro/tradition)
E ola nā ʻohā (offshoots of the kalo/family descendants)
E ola ka pua, ke keiki (Long live the flower, the child)
E hua mau ka ikaika (May strength continue to bear fruit forever)
Life to the taro Life to the vine
Life to the children Strong through all time
Verse 2
Mai luna mai o Waipiʻo (From the heights of Waipiʻo)
Sacred valleys shining below
Hele pū kākou i mua Side by side we rise and go
E kilohi iā Hiʻilawe (Behold Hiʻilawe)
Mist and waters softly flow
Nāpoʻopoʻo calls the spirit
Calling us to stand and grow
Bridge
Rise together, hand in hand
Rooted deep within the land
Hearts enduring, spirits free
Bound by love and genealogy
Chorus
E ola ka hāloa (Long live Hāloa=taro/tradition)
E ola nā ʻohā (offshoots of the kalo/family descendants)
E ola ka pua, ke keiki (Long live the flower, the child)
E hua mau ka ikaika (May strength continue to bear fruit forever)
Life to the taro Life to the vine
Life to the children Strong through all time
Instrumental (8 measures)
Chorus
E ola ka hāloa (Long live Hāloa=taro/tradition)
E ola nā ʻohā (offshoots of the kalo/family descendants)
E ola ka pua, ke keiki (Long live the flower, the child)
E hua mau ka ikaika (May strength continue to bear fruit forever)
Life to the taro Life to the vine
Life to the children Strong through all time
Outro
Mele Mahiʻai (Song of the Farmers)
eia, eia, eia, eia (here we are, here we are!)
Mele Mahiʻai (Song of the Farmers)