Category Archives: Songs

Take 5: Hiʻilawe

Posted on June 19, 2018 by amykstillman

Aloha Dear Readers!  Iʻve been intensely going through over 100 commercially-released recordings of the song “Hiʻilawe.” Here are my personal picks (in no particular order): Lito Arkangel. All 13 verses, rendered in beautiful Hawaiian pronunciation. From the CD me ke … Continue reading →

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Take 5: Noho Paipai

Posted on July 26, 2017 by amykstillman

Hello Dear Readers! Iʻm working on the song “Noho Paipai.” Itʻs one of the songs in my critical edition project. The lyrics were published in 1946 in a collection of John Almeidaʻs songs, with translations by Mary Kawena Pukui. Among … Continue reading →

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E Mau Ke Ea o Ka ʻĀina

Posted on July 3, 2017 by amykstillman

Jon Osorioʻs powerful 2010 commentary in Honolulu Civil Beat is making the rounds on social media once again. Speaking of Hawaiian conceptions of independence, Jon offers a powerful statement on ea: Independence — ea — for us was a basic right … Continue reading →

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Take 5: Ka Ipo Lei Manu

Posted on June 26, 2017 by amykstillman

Hello Dear Readers! I have “Ka Ipo Lei Manu” on my mind a lot these days. It is one of the songs to be included in a book project that has been many moons in the making. (Long story for … Continue reading →

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What Iʻm Listening To . . . Hāliu vols. 1-3 by Kūpaoa

Posted on July 6, 2015 by amykstillman

First, a story. About ten years ago, I sat in Marsee Auditorium at El Camino College in Torrance, California, listening to a concert by the incomparable Kekuhi Kanahele. She pulled out all the stops on her array of oli-infused vocal … Continue reading →

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SONGS: Hoonanea a Hookuene Liliʻu

Posted on February 13, 2015 by amykstillman

Fifteen kumu hula and hālau across Southern California have been involved in bringing a remarkable collaboration to the concert stage. This will come to fruition on Sunday, February 15, 2015, at Soka University Performing Arts Center in Aliso Viejo. “Collaboration” … Continue reading →

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SONGS: Pua Melekule

Posted on January 23, 2015 by amykstillman

Magnolia blossom. Sheet music first published in 1892, bundled together with “Ka Ipo Lei Manu.” Plain cover, but a historianʻs dream:  both songs clearly marked with the term “hula kui.” “Pua Melekule” is very much on my mind and tongue … Continue reading →

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Hula Kuʻi Songs: A Playlist

Posted on January 26, 2014 by amykstillman

Back in 2010, I posted the listening assignments for my class “Music of Hawaiʻi.” It was a list of song titles, artists and album titles, leaving it up to the listener to look up the recordings. Now in this age … Continue reading →

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Take 5: Hawaiian War Chant

Posted on January 18, 2014 by amykstillman

Not your grandmaʻs Hawaiian War Chant. Not mine, either. But theyʻre out there. A search on YouTube on “Hawaiian War Chant” will yield entire playlists of the song in various historical and contemporary performances. The vast majority are mainland-produced recordings … Continue reading →

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Take 5: Hawaiian War Chant / Kāua i ka Huahua’i

Posted on January 12, 2014 by amykstillman

Actually 1 Take today. But more to follow. Here are several facts. “Kāua i ka Huahua’i” is understood to be a love song by Prince William Pitt Leleiohoku. The earliest known printed version of the songʻs lyrics is in the book … Continue reading →

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