Ka Pa Hula Hawai'i - Kai A'o Mamala

This clip is of Ka Pā Hula Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Dance Troupe), Kumu Hula, John Kahaʻi Topolinsky. The mele is called, Kai A’o Māmala or the Sea of Māmala!

According to Aunty Sara (Sally) Moani-ke-ala-o-nā-pua-ma-ka-hikina Wood – Naluaʻi, Māmala is the name of Honolulu Harbor. It got its name by a demi-goddess (Kupua) that carried that name who loved to surf outside the harbor. She at will, can turn herself into a beautiful woman or a shark. She fell in love with another Kupua manō (shark demi-god) who patrolled the shoreline from Koko Head to Diamond Head – his name was Ouha. When they decided to be together he started to mistreat her after a while. She then ran into the arms of another man. He was a high chief who took very good care of her. After some time, Ouha realized his mistakes and wanted to win Māmala back to his arms. So he decided to approach her with a calabash of fish. When he saw her, he was mesmerized by her beauty that he tripped and fell to the ground dropping the fish. In his embarrassment and shame for falling, he decided to return home to the sea.

Although this mele speaks of a place called Māmala, it doesn’t actually speak of the demi-goddess at all! It can be dedicated to either Queen Emma (Kamoha’i) or King David Kalākaua. It depends on the last line of the mele because both dedications were used when this mele was popular in the late mid 1800’s. It depended on whose political side you were on because both Emma and Kalākaua were campaigning for the throne. This mele speaks about what good work they are doing and how strong they are and not to let good fortune slip out of their hands.
The women in this clip wear a purple peasant blouse with a white fitted pāʻū skirt (no elastic) and white pantaloons common for that time period – the colonial era. They wear rose and palapalai fern lei’s on their heads as well as neck. The men in the previous clip wear the same lei’s (Same competition!). This mele is one of two version that I know of. With the “aha hana” in between the verses leads one to believe that it is a love song – a kind of tease – like “shame on you!” The choreography here is basically the kāwelu step commonly known as the “Kalākaua” step. Fortunately, this mele is not dedicated to either Emma or Kalākaua! It’s dedicated to Māmala! No political stand here! Love it!!!

Enjoy!