LIHU‘E — Hawaiian-language experts and composers unite for the second Garden Island Arts Council Koke‘e Hawaiian Music Songwriters Camp June 11 to June 13 in the lush reaches of Koke‘e.
Small groups of four to five students will learn principles of Hawaiian-language translation, composition and melody by instructors Puakea Nogelmeier, Kenneth Makuakane, Keola Donaghy and Cody Pueo Pata.
Camp opens June 11 with a potluck dinner and music around the campfire with Saturday and Sunday devoted to songwriting. Cost is $100 and covers food, lodging at the Koke‘e Civilian Conservation Corps camp as well as instruction.
Plan to take hikes at sunset and sunrise, stopping at vistas along the way to soak up the beauty of the place.
“We are trying to inspire attendees into a Hawaiian way of thinking,” said event organizer and GIAC President Katherine Brocklehurst. “Hawaiian-language music is such an art.”
The subtlety of the language coupled with the heavy use of metaphor make Hawaiian a language of poetry, she said.
“Hawaiian thought and language does not come out really bold,” she said. “They’ll take the beauty of a flower they are equating to the woman they love. It’s metaphorical and indirect. The thought comes in a roundabout way.”
Attendee Ed Blanchet garnered insight into the musicality of the language.
“Apart from knowing the language, there are all kinds of subtleties in the poetry. The instruction was helpful getting insight into those intricacies. It was helpful seeing below the surface of what’s there beyond the literal translation,” he said.
Past attendee Amy Franklin collaborated on the first verse of a song that was later developed and submitted to the Mokihana Festival Composers’ Contest.
“The theme was to come up with a song that would talk about the essence of Koke‘e,” she said. “The verse (we wrote) translates as ‘What we get from Koke‘e we give out to others.’”
The group (Mele Brewer, Franklin, Stefan Schweitzer, Ginger Saiki and Jordene Pi‘ilani Lee-Hornstine) further developed the song, “He Apo O Koke‘e,” that went on to garner third place in the Composers’ Contest.
The theme this year is celebration of the Hawaiian language. Time will be spent on both mele (melody) and leo (lyrics). Some pre-work will be sent to attendees allowing them to prepare either a melody or lyrics before camp.
“We’ll give verses with no music and students can put them to melody or we can give a melody and you put words to it,” Brocklehurst said. “Whether you’re stronger with melody or stronger with words, there will be something for everyone.”
Instructors work closely with students exploring context and nuance of the Hawaiian language. Nogelmeier has taught Hawaiian language at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa for over 25 years and been a haku mele of chants and songs since before he became a teacher. A Na Hoku Hanohano award winner for haku mele and song of the year, he is active in composing and mentoring other composers. Prolific songwriter Makuakane is the recipient of 12 Na Hoku Hanohano awards and has produced and recorded over 100 albums. Donaghy is an assistant professor of Hawaiian studies at Ka Haka ‘Ula O Ke‘elikolani College of Hawaiian Language, at UH-Hilo. He has composed over 50 mele, many in collaboration with Makuakane. Pata is a recording artist under Ululoa Productions. Since 1998 his awards and recognitions include the 2000 Frank B. Shaner Hawaiian Falsetto Competition award and seven additional Hoku nominations, including four times in the haku mele category.
To register e-mail katherine@brockmarketing.com or call 346-5800.
