| “Kaulana na pua”
Ellen Keho’ohiawaokalani Wright Prendergast
”Kaulana na pua” is sung at baby luaus, birthday parties, and in restaurants all over Waikiki. The name of the song exudes beauty, Kaulana na pua literally means the famous flowers, a reference to the people of Hawaii. The singer, usually a Hawaiian male, is seen up there strumming his guitar or ukulele smiling at the audience and melodically sings the beautiful opening phrase: “kaulana na pua a’o Hawai’i,”, “Famous are the children of Hawai’i”. Unbeknownst to many who listen and enjoy this Hawaiian mele, behind the beautiful Hawaiian words is a message both angry and rebellious. Kaulana na pua is A Song of Hawai’i written in January 1893 by Ellen Keho’ohiawaokalani Wright Prendergrast which vehemently opposed the annexation of Hawai’i to the United States.
This song clearly and boldly voices the anger and rebellion the “Children of Hawai’i” had
toward the United States Annexation of Hawai’i. After the illegal
overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy and its annexation into the United
States in the late 1800’s, the people of Hawai’i were appalled at how a people whom they
had shown kindness and love to had betrayed them and taken away their
sovereignty, their dignity and their land. Because Queen Lili’oukalani
did not want war, Members of the Royal Hawaiian Band asked Ellen
Keho’ohiawaokalani Wright Prendergast to help put in words the feelings
of the Hawaiian People.
Ellen poetically pieced together a now classic Hawaiian song that speaks strongly against the injustice of the past, and yet calls for all the people of Hawai’i to unite together as one. The entire second verse of the song calls to the islands of Hawaii to come and join together. “Hawaii, land of Keawi answers, Pi’ilani’s bays help, Mano’s Kaua’i lends its help, and so do the sands of Kakuhihewa.” Those who understand ancient Hawaiian culture, the islands were often referred to as the names of the chiefs who ruled them. In this case, Keawi refers to what is commonly called the Big Island, Pi’ilani represents the island of Maui, Mano was a great ruler of Kaua’i, and “the sands of Kakuhihewa” is a reference to the many children or the great mana of Oahu. Ellen Wright Prendergast emotionally calls upon all of the people, all of the mana of these islands to come together and fight as one against a common enemy. Throughout its history, these islands have always fought each other for power, and until Kamehameha conquered all the islands, much bloodshed and bitter feelings were displayed between the islands. Using the names of old, warring chiefs and calling them to unite, Prendergast is calling the people of Hawaii to put away its bloody and bitter past and join together as a united and focused people of Hawaii.
Right after the call to unite, Prendergast immediately goes forth and strongly proclaims “ No one will fix a signature to the paper of the enemy, with its sin of annexation and its sale of native rights.” The paper that Prendergast refers to is the annexation papers that the government of America wanted the people to sign. The Hawaiians saw it as a sin. Ironically, it was the very religion that the Americans taught the Hawaiians, Christianity, that condemns the papers as sin because it was based on deciet. All native Hawaiians saw the annexation as a great lie and an outrage and refused to sign those papers.
Prendergast then states that “We do not value the government’s money, we are satisfied with the stones, the abundance of the land”. It was well known that one of the biggest arguments the government made for annexation was that Hawaiian’s would benefit financially from the tradeoff. Despite the assurances of the United States government, the Hawaiians refused to accept those terms and argued that it would be better the way things were. In fact, Prendergast argues that they are more satisfied with the Stones, a reference to both the land that they loved, and a statement of how much they valued American money opting for stones over the governments money.
In its last verse, Kaulana na pua states “we back Lili’oukalani, who has won the rights of the land, tell the story of the people who love their land.” Lili’oukalani was the ruling queen at the time of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy. She was the last ruling queen and one of the most beloved. Prendergast again calls the people of Hawaii to unite, this time behind their beloved queen. She also ends the song with a plea/command to all to continue the fight, not to give up. To continue to tell all of the people who love their land, to tell all of the plight that they are in, and to continue to do so through all generations. To this day, Prendergast’s plea is answered. Whether it be family celebrations, gatherings or just some of the friends getting together, the song of the “kaulana na pua” can be heard from the united people of every island. |
