Kulu ka lā: The Daily Drip - "Holo Mai Pele"
Credit: Pacific Islanders in Communications |
Profile:
Holo Mai Pele represents the pairing of historical Hawaiian mo'olelo and hula kahiko chronicling the pilina (relationship) of Pelehounuamea (Pele) and Hi'iakikapoliopele (Hi'iaka) and their metaphoric pilina to the elemental akua affecting the earth cycle of Hawai'i island and the Hawaiian archipelago. The mo'olelo and accompanying mele oli detail the complicated 'ohana pilina of Pele, Hi'iaka's journey to fulfill her destiny, concepts on sacrificing friendship and love, protocol, respect, revenge, and restoration.
Synopsis:
The mo'olelo begins as Pele leaves her older sister, Nāmakaokaha'i, departing Kahiki (Tahiti) to search for a new home, mirroring the migration of Polynesians to the Hawaiian Islands. Making the journey with Pele: her older brother Kamohoali'i, her 'ohana, and her uncle, Lonomakua. Pele chooses Puna as her new home. During a deep sleep Pele travels to Hā'ena (Kaua'i) and falls in love with Lohi'auipo. Their bliss is short-lived as Pele is called back by Hi'iaka. Pele charges Hiʻiaka with the kuleana to bring Lohi'auipo to Pele. Hiʻiaka agrees but with the conditions that Pele watch over Hōpoe and the forest of lehua blossoms. Pele warns Hi'iaka not to fall in love with Lohi'auipo.During her forty days of travel, Hi'iaka encounters various akua (elementals) and practices the applicable ceremonies and protocols to honor them.
She finds Lohi'auipo and must intice his spirit back into his body through ceremony and with the help of akua. During her journey she is joined by helpers and guides in kinolau (spirit) form representing different stages of her maturity and skills. Ultimately, events escalate between Hi'iaka and Pele causing destruction but creating transition for Hi'iaka to come into her own and take her rightful place among the deities.
Cultural Insights:
Last summer, I participated in a workshop hosted by the Edith Kanaka'ole Foundation. It was the first time 'akua' had been explained to me as elements/elementals. It completely changed the way I viewed mo'olelo. It aligns with the Hawaiian mindset which frees the way you accept kinolau in a story. I think one of the most critical elements to understand about the Hawaiian way of thinking is that as a people we are very lateral. We can envision multiple ways to do something, multiple applications; so it stands to reason we would understand both kānaka and our gods to embody multiple attributes, both physical and spritually.
Using this mental space, it was much easier to accept the conditions and behaviors of Pele, Hi'iaka, and the other akua involved in Holo Mai Pele. I completely enjoyed the mastery of storytelling in the video and was hughly impressed that the original choreography had been maintained.
The other take-away I had from this reading is the realistic representation of 'ohana, pilina, and the emotional range that accompanies life. Happiness, anger, respect, honor, maturity, kapu desires, death, life, restoration were all touched upon. There is nothing that is downplayed or minimized about Pele's personality. Likewise, Hi'iaka's path is emotionally complicated-from being nurtured by Pele to her explosive anger, to her desire to be loved by Lohi'auipo. I feel our kupuna were realistic about the messiness of love, life, and moving forward yet remained transparent about that aspect in their mele and mele oli.
Watch Holo Mai Pele as presented by Hālau O Kekuhi. This presentation adapts authentic mo'olelo content for modern audiences by combining traditions of Hawaiian chant and hula with innovative elements of western theater.
Credit: 'Ōiwi TV |
Comments
Post a Comment