Sweet Hawaiian music. Ukulele singing their songs while guitars offer a counterpoint. Dancers spontaneously stepping forward to gift their hula styling of a favorite tune. Keiki running around the group\u2019s edge. And it\u2019s all happening in a driveway or a backyard.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s kanikapila\u2014and it\u2019s one of my definitions of pure musical joy.<\/p>\n
Kanikapila translates to \u201cpluck the strings\u201d and it\u2019s the fond name for a get-together of family, friends and neighbors (and occasionally a cousin from the next island) to enjoy Hawaiian music and pluck those guitar and ukulele strings. The music can be from all Hawaiian genres: traditional, contemporary, sometimes hapa haole and even occasionally, hymns.<\/p>\n
But in my years playing ukulele, I\u2019ve found lots of mainland folks shy away from this kind of musical event because they don\u2019t know what to expect. Don\u2019t be timid\u2014this is something for you, too!<\/p>\n
Other than simply plopping yourself in a chair (usually a plastic patio version) and letting the music unfold as you smile a lot (this is not<\/strong> the time for you to take charge\u2014instead, sit back and let it happen around you), there are only two things you need to know\u2014and I\u2019m here to share them with you.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n First, that Hawaiian phrase\u2026<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n First, if you\u2019re listening carefully to Hawaiian songs, you\u2019ll hear the same phrase repeatedly\u2014even if you don\u2019t know a word of Hawaiian you\u2019ll begin to recognize it in song after song. The phrase (or its variant) is, \u201cHa\u2019ina mai ka puana.\u201d<\/strong> Sometimes the words are drawn out, sometimes they\u2019re sung quickly, but you\u2019ll hear them near the end of the song, typically to start the final verse.<\/p>\n Have you ever seen a band play and the leader lifts his leg a bit to signal the band that they\u2019re on the last time through and the ending is coming? That\u2019s the same thing you\u2019re hearing in this musical phrase.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been explained to me as meaning, \u201cAnd so the story is told, \u201c or \u201cTell the summary or refrain,\u201c or \u201cLet the story be told,\u201d or even, \u201cThis concludes my song.\u201d<\/p>\n When you hear this phrase, you\u2019ll know the song is coming to a close. Now tell me truthfully, isn\u2019t that so much more meaningful than a quick kick?<\/p>\n An aside: It\u2019s not unusual to hear old-style Hawaiian songs sung so that each verse is repeated twice, one after another, before moving on to the chorus or next verse. I like that feature because if I\u2019m playing along, it gives me one time through to learn to play and\/or sing it and the next time through I\u2019ve had a bit of practice!<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n That last song\u2026<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n When it\u2019s almost time to pack up the guitars and put the leftover poke into the Tupperware (okay, I jest\u2014there is never<\/strong> leftover poke at a kanikapila\u2014but you get where I\u2019m going with this), you\u2019ll traditionally hear one last song.<\/p>\n This song, \u201cHawai\u2019i Aloha<\/strong>,\u201d is the final one at many Hawaiian gatherings, not just at a kanikapila. While it\u2019s an old song, written in the 19th<\/sup> century by much-loved Christian missionary Rev. Lorenzo Lyons, it\u2019s acquired a cultural meaning that is even greater than its words (which are pretty meaningful, too). It\u2019s been described as a song of unity and aloha for one\u2019s birthplace, land and home (from Mana Maoli: Playing for Change Collaboration).<\/p>\n At an event\u2019s conclusion, folks gather close together, join hands, sway to the melody\u2019s soothing tempo and sing \u201cHawai\u2019i Aloha,\u201d raising their linked arms at the very end. It\u2019s a time that\u2019s packed with emotion; do not be talking with others during the song or skipping out and gathering up your gear. Just don\u2019t.<\/p>\n Being part of this experience is something you will not forget. I\u2019m linking the words below for you, as well as a translation. But don\u2019t worry if you can\u2019t sing it, you\u2019ll always be able to catch up on the \u201cOli e!\u201d parts. And don\u2019t forget to hold hands!<\/p>\n Song links you don\u2019t want to miss:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
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