kāhea

私は今、フラダンスを習っています。「kāhea」は、フラでも使う言葉です。
（ナウパカ伝説では、神様に声をかける時に出てきました。）

When we dance hula,
we call at the end of song, as meaning “This is the song about XX."
And we call at the first of song, as meaning “Next We will dance the song of XX."

At the end of first part, we call Kāhea of the second part.
we call the first phrase of the song and dancers and musicians make sure that we will dance here next. We all parform together with one heart.

Mele

“Mele” means chant, song, poem.

mele hula; Entertainment song
mele oli; Chant to pray to god

mele kahea; a song to ask for permission to enter the teacher before entering the room

“OLI KUNIHI"

One of Mele kāhea. （We sometimes call this chant at hula Hālau.）
This song comes from the story of Hi’iaka.

When Hi’iaka went to pick Prince Lohi’au up on Kauai, she tried to cross the river but the bridge was gone. A mean witch broke the bridge.（There is also a story that it was a lizard, not a witch.）
At that time Hi’iaka sang this chant.

Hi’iaka called out to the witch but there was no reply.
She unwillingly put stepping stones and cross the river.

When we learn hula, we call this chant for expression of our will
that we would like to learn hula without losing difficulty, with conviction, like Hi’iaka.

フラのレッスンで習った「OLI KUNIHI」に、このような伝説があるのを改めて知りました。ヒイアカが出てくるとは・・!? なかなか覚えられないOliですが、込められた意味（歌詞の訳は一応聞いたけどそれだけでない物語）を知って、少しは親しみ込めて唱えるようになれたら・・と思います。