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Mele Lahui: Songs and Stories of Hawai’i’s Annexation

The Royal Hawaiian Band and the Hawai’i Council on the Humanities have joined forces for a tasty lunchtime program this Friday (4/26) at ‘Iolani Bandstand.  HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports.

This story includes a version of Kaulana Na Pua performed by the Royal Hawaiian Band with Misty Kela’i.  Hear more this Friday, April 26, at ‘Iolani Palace from noon to 1 PM (weather permitting).   Guests are welcome to bring a picnic to this free lunchtime concert.

The program, Mele L?hui, will explore songs composed either during the time of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom or in remembrance of it.  Special presenters–Aaron Mahi, Puakea Nogelmeier, and Martha Noyes–will illustrate the events of that time and give perspective through the eyes of the composers.  This concert of songs about Hawaiian nationalism will feature the Queen’s Prayer, Ku‘u Pua I Paoakalani, N? Ali‘i, Ka Na‘i Aupuni, and Mele ‘Ai P?haku.   Stellar vocalists, Malia Ka'ai and Nina Keali'iwahamana are also featured.

A special booklet containing program notes about the pieces, written by the speakers, along with song lyrics, will be made available to audience members at no charge.

This event is free and open to the public.  Attendees are welcome to bring a picnic meal for seating on the grounds of ‘Iolani Palace.  A limited number of chairs will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis.  For more information, contact Stacy Hoshino, HCH director of grants and special projects, at shoshino@hihumanities.org.

http://hihumanities.org/mele-lahui-performed-by-the-royal-hawaiian-band/

For more on the Royal Hawaiian Band:

http://www.rhb-music.com/

The Hawai'i Council for the Humanities collection, "We Go Jam", contains the essay about KaulanaNaPua by Martha Noyes as well as many other scholarly notes and recollections about Hawai'i's music over the years.  Check the Humanities website for a copy:  http://hihumanities.org/

Noe Tanigawa covered art, culture and ideas for two decades at Hawaiʻi Public Radio.
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