Hula Lesson Videos
Ka wai ke kumu ola!
Water, the Source of Life!
Orientation
Aloha and welcome to Panaʻewa on Hawaiʻi Island! Kekuhi and Tuhi here! This mele, Ka Wai Ke Kumu Ola, is a hula paʻiumauma, that talks about the entire water cycle and the components: the sun, the ocean, the clouds, the rain, the forests, the crops, the water people. This hula was originally taught to us by Lanakila Manguil. This mele (chant text) was composed for the Hawaiian Studies Kupuna Program, by Kupuna Omphroy.
Vocabulary: hula paʻiumauma – A dance in which one of the movements consisted in striking on the chest
Click here for PDF of the text below. For mele and translation only, click here
YouTube playlist of ALL the videos can be accessed here.
Lesson 1: Verse 1 and 2
We’ll teach this hula 2 verses at a time in each video. You will see 2 versions: standing and sitting. For everyone – when you are going to do this hula, you should use a pareu (2 yard cloth) or pāʻū (hula skirt) to cover the bottom half of your body.
Mele
1. Ke kai lā ke kai
Ke kumu o ka wai
2. Ka wai lā ka wai
Huki ʻia e ka lā
Translation
1. The ocean, the salty ocean
The source of water
2. The water, the fresh water
Pulled out by the sun
Vocabulary Used:
noho – sit
ʻahaʻaha – to sit cross-legged
pāpio – to sit with knees together and feet to one side
Lesson 2: Verse 3 and 4
Mele
3. Ka lā e ka lā
Ke aliʻi o ka lani
4. Ka lani lā ka lani
Ka home o ke ao
Translation
3. The sun, the great sun
The chief of the sky
4. The sky, the beautiful sky
The home of the clouds
We recognize the sun as the huge element that pulls the water from the ocean and into the clouds.
Lesson 3: Verse 5 and 6
Mele
5. Ke ao lā ke ao
Hānau mai ka ua
6. Ka ua lā ka ua
Iho lā i uka
Translation
5. The clouds, the clouds
Who birth the rain
6. The rain, the rain
Falling in the uplands
If you can’t get the full rhythm with your feet and hands, here we introduce another variation.
Lesson 4: Verses 7, 8, 9, 10
Mele
7. I uka lā i uka
Ka wailele lā
8. Wailele lā wailele
Loko wai ʻoluʻolu
9. Loko wai loko wai
Kahe i ke kahawai
10. Kahawai kahawai
Kahe i ka ʻauwai
Translation
7. In the uplands, in the mountains
Is the waterfall
8. The waterfall, the waterfall
Flows to the refreshing freshwater pond
9. The freshwater pond
Flows to the river
10. The river, the river
Flows to the canal
Lesson 5: Verses 11, 12, 13
Mele
11. Nā ʻauwai nā ʻauwai
Kahe i ka lo’i kalo
12. Loʻi kalo loʻi kalo
Hoʻi i ka ʻauwai
13. Ka ʻauwai ka ʻauwai
Ho’i i ke kahawai
Translation
11. The canal, the canal
Flows to the wetland taro patch
12. The taro patch, the taro patch
The water returns to the canal
13. The canal, the canal
The water returns to river
Lesson 6: Verses 14, 15, 16
Mele
14. Kahawai kahawai
Kahe i ka muliwai
15. Muliwai muliwai
Noho i ke kahakai
16. Kahakai kahakai
Ka lei o ke kai
Ke kai lā ke kai
Ke kumu ola o ka wai ē
KA WAI KE KUMU OLA!
Translation
14. The river, the freshwater stream
Flows to the river mouth
15. The river mouth, the river mouth
Resides at the beach
16. The beach, the beach
The beloved, the crown of the ocean
The ocean, the sea
Is the source of water, the source of life!
WATER, THE SOURCE OF LIFE
The Whole Hula
If you never knew the water cycle before, you can explain it through the mele or the hula now! We challenge you to get the words wonderfully, and to be able to recall the water cycle. It is so important BECAUSE the care of our FORESTS really affects the quality of our water cycle. A hui hou! Till we meet again!