Tag Archives | Ioane Burns

Oh So Beautiful Kona

In our online class this week we celebrate Hawaiian Mele, classic Hawaiian songs and chants that tell glorious tales of the islands. Many Hawaiian mele proudly share the love Hawaiians hold for their beautiful home. Songs like “Wai Hu’ihu’i O Ke Aniani,” which we sing in class as “Konikoni,” offer lush lyrical images of the islands’ fragrant flowers.  In “Pa Mai Ana Ka Makani” — also commonly known as “Kona” because it sings the praises of the Kona region of the Big Island — composer Lydia Nawahine Kekuewa lovingly recalls the area’s natural beauty. Let’s enjoy this video of Hoku Zuttermeister with Ioane Burns performing a swinging version of the song.