1. Mele Hula: E Kuini E Kapi´olani    
HE LEI NO KA MO´I WAHINE KAPI´OLANI    
2. Mo´olelo 1    
3. Mele Lei No. 1: Aia i Haili ko lei nani    
4. Mele Lei No. 2: Aia i Lihau ko lei nani    
5. Mele Lei No. 3: Aia i Nu´uanu ko lei nani    
6. Mele Lei No. 4: Aia i Mana ko lei nani    
7. Mele Lei No. 5: Aia i Europa ko lei nani    
8. Mele Lei No. 6: Aia i ka ´opua ko lei nani    
9. Mele Lei No. 7: Mai Italia ko lei nani    
10. Mele Lei No. 8: Mai Italia ko lei nani    
HE INOA NU´A HULU NO KA MO´I WAHINE KAPI´OLANI    
11. Mo´olelo 2    
12. Mele Nu´a Hulu No. 1: Aia i Waimanalo ko nu´a hulu    
13. Mele Nu´a Hulu No. 2: Aia i Mololani ko nu´a hulu    
14. Mele Nu´a Hulu No. 3: Aia i Mokumanu ko nu´a hulu    
HE INOA NO LAULANI KOKI    
15. Moʻolelo 3    
16. Mele Inoa No. 1: Hanohano Hanalei i ka ua nui    
17. Mele Inoa No. 2: Ua nani Waimea i ka wai kea    
18. Mele Inoa No. 3: Hanohano Ni´ihau i ka malie    
19. Mele Inoa No. 4: Hanohano ka uka i Pihanakalani    
MELE HULA    
20. Mele Hula: E ho´i ke aloha i Ni´ihau    
21. Mo´olelo 4: He Pomaika´i

ALBUM REVIEW - HONOLULU ADVERTISER'S ISLAND SOUNDS COLUMN BY WAYNE HARADA (September 2007)

Genre: Contemporary renderings of historical chants

Distinguishing notes: Kūlia i ka Pūnāwai is the kumu hula association of Southern California, which continues to preserve the riches of the past for the present and future generations of hula enthusiasts. The intent: to showcase the chants and mele linked to and honoring Queen Kapi'olani in simple recitations accompanied by the traditional ipu. Thus, kumu and pupils of halau in Southern California revisit some familiar, some not so well-known, mele that tell of lei, visits, capes, places and moments that filled the palette of mo'i Kapi'olani's life.

A valuable liner booklet provides lyrics and translations; the 21 titles play like a relaxing recital tracking the curve of Kapi'olani's indelible history. But the CD is more academic — a learning tool to foster the appreciation and understanding of hula — than entertaining.

The simple chant-with-ipu format retains a sense of formality and instruction, but this results in an underlying sameness to the process.

Still, this is an aural primer, if you will, suggesting how chants and mele are the foundation of hula ... fostering knowledge and artistry in the process.

Our take: If you're a green hula prospect or even a seasoned vet, there's something to be learned from this one.

ALBUM REVIEW - HONOLULU STAR-BULLETIN'S ISLAND MELE COLUMN BY JOHN BERGER (August 2007)

Daniel Ho has made history as the Grammy Award-winning producer of two economically packaged "live" compilation albums. He gives back to Hawaii here with this thoroughly annotated collection of 19th-century chants written in honor of Queen Kapi'olani.

Kūlia i ka Pūnāwai, an association of hula halau in Southern California, honored Kalakaua with its first compilation album of historic chants last year. This one is produced to the same high standards, and in some respects it is even more important.

Kalakaua has long been recognized as an accomplished songwriter as well as a staunch defender of Hawaiian culture. "Kapi'olani" reminds us that she, too, played an important role in the social and cultural life of Hawaii.

One set of eight chants -- known collectively as "He Lei No Ka Mo'i Wahine Kapi'olani" -- dates from Kalakaua's coronation in 1883. Two shorter sets of chants commemorate royal visits to Waimanalo and Kaua'i. All are noteworthy.

Although this album will appeal primarily to students of hula and chant, its historical significance makes it worthy of a place in any collection of Hawaiian music.

from the ALBUM NOTES...

Queen Kapi´olani (1834 - 1899)
To modern Hawai´i residents, Kapi´olani is the name of a boulevard, a park at the foot of Diamond Head, a Waikiki hotel across from the park, and one of Honolulu's leading medical centers. To students of Hawaiian history, Kapi´olani was the wife of King David Kalakaua, who ruled the kingdom from1874-1891. To haumana hula (hula students), Kapi´olani is both a haku mele (poet) and a recipient of numerous mele that honor her.

In 2006, Kūlia i ka Pūnāwai (Kumu Hula Association of Southern California) presented its second collaborative concert production in Los Angeles, titled “He Lei No Kapi´olani.” (A Lei For Kapi´olani). Our lei was made up of mele for her, associated with her, and by her, many of which are presented in this recording. Our lei in both the 2006 concert and in this recording is a ho´okupu to this beloved Hawaiian Queen, so that our children will know why she is so reverently remembered in mele and hula.

full ALBUM LINER NOTES include: Queen Kapiʻolani biography, notes on Mele, the 2006 concert, and album recording project

Kūlia i ka Pūnāwai
(Kumu Hula Association of Southern California)

Kūlia i ka Pūnāwai is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to the perpetuation of hula and professionalism in hula practice. Members are kumu hula of halau hula—hula schools that span southern California from Ventura to Chula Vista. The organization fosters unity among the kumu hula, and a mentoring network.

The Association’s four-fold mission—of maintaining the foundations of hula, perpetuating hula in unity, developing professionalism, and strengthening knowledge and understanding of hula—infuses its various activities. Workshops held during quarterly gatherings focus on educational activities that enhance members’ knowledge base of hula. Performance presentations are opportunities for students from different halau to expand their experiences through sharing repertoire, and through performing in a wide range of theater and festival venues. To date Kūlia i ka Pūnāwai has produced two collaborative concerts, “He Inoa No Kalakaua” in April 2004, and “He Lei No Kapi´olani” in April 2006.

In Memoriam
Aunty Clarice Wahineali´i Nuhi brought the vision of a kumu hula gathering to life in November 1997. She left this world just weeks before the "He Lei No Kapi´olani" concert.  He kumu hiwahiwa i poina ´ole ´ia.

Producers - Lowell Edgar, Daniel Ho and Amy Ku´uleialoha Stillman
Hawaiian Protocol - Randy Chang
Hospitality- Lydia Miyashiro
Production Assistants - Puanani Grace Edgar, Sylvia Puanani Edgar
Videographers - Puanani Grace Edgar, Queena Morris
Recording, Mixing & Mastering - Daniel Ho
Design Layout - Lydia Miyashiro
Liner Notes & Translations - Amy Ku´uleialoha Stillman
Historical Consultant - Kihei de Silva
Mele Hula "E Kuini E Kapi´olani" - Kumu Hula Mapuana de Silva
Marsee Auditorium Performance Producers - Randy Chang, Lowell Edgar
Marsee Auditorium Performance Production Assistants - Lee Ann Sako, Nona Oshiro

Record Label: Daniel Ho Creations
Recorded: June-July 2006 and May 2007
Release Date: September 2007

hi-res album cover