DESCRIPTION:
Ke lei maila ‘o Ka‘ula i ke kai ē
ʻO ka mālamalama a‘o Ni‘ihau ua mālie
A mālie ua pā (e) ka Inuwai lā
Ke inu maila nā hala ‘o Naue i ke kai
No Naue ka hala, no Puna ka wahine
No ka lua nō i Kīlauea
‘Ae!

This mele aloha is often referred to as “Oli Lei.” Today it is used by hālau hula (hula schools) as a adornment chant when putting on lei for a ceremony or performance. But it is also used as a lei-giving chant whenever one receives special guests. The chant is sometimes used in addition to giving lei, or sometimes is used as the gift itself.

The history of this particular mele comes from the story of Hiʻiakaikapoliopele, the youngest sister of the Pele family. In the early part of her journey to fetch her sister Pele’s lover, Lohiʻau, Pele and her companion Wahineʻōmaʻo happen upon a limbless woman named Manamanaiakaluea who is trying to pick limu and ʻopihi from the rocks. Taking pity on this woman, Hiʻiaka restores Manamanaiakaluea to full health, giving her back her arms and legs. Manamanaiakaluea is so overcome with joy that she composes this chant in Hiʻiaka’s honor as a means to thank her for everything that she has done.