'Inikiniki malie . . .

Aloha kakahiaka e nā hoa pepeiao! Good morning, Morning Mana'o listeners! It’s the beginning of a busy week for many of us, so let’s start our week with some nahenahe, soothing music. The mele I have chosen to share today takes us on a huaka'i or journey to Nā Wai 'Ehā, the four famous waters of Maui. It is sometimes referred to as Waikapū, but it is also called 'Īnikiniki Mālie. The mele takes us to each ahupua'a and shares with us the wind and rain of the area. It begins first in Waikapū and says, “Waikapū, makani Kokololio. Makani houhou 'ili. 'Īnikiniki mālie. Waikapū, the Kokololio wind. The wind that makes the skin tingle, a gentle pinch.” The Kokolio wind of Waikapū is a strong, gusty wind, but Kokololio also means rapid flowing water. The second verse takes us to Wailuku and says, “Wailuku makani lawe mālie. Makani houhou ÿili, 'īnikiniki mālie. Wailuku, the gentle wind. The wind the makes the skin tingle, a gentle pinch.” Wailuku is famous for the calm, refreshing makani lawe mālie, a gentle breeze that comes down from the valley and cools the kula plains. In the third verse we arrive in the ahupua'a of Waiehu and it says, “Waiehu, makani hō'eha 'ili. Makani houhou hou 'ili, 'īnikiniki mälie. Waiehu, the skin the hurts the skin. The breeze makes my skin tingle, a gentle pinch.” Waiehu is known for the makani hō'eha 'ili, a wind that stings the skin. The fourth verse brings us to the fourth stream and the ahupua'a of Waihe'e. It recalls the Kili'o'opu wind, a wind said to bring with it the smell of the 'o'opu fish being steamed lāwalu style, wrapped in ti-leaves. The mele ends with the traditional, “Hā'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana. Makani houhou 'ili, 'īnikiniki mālie. Here ends my story of the winds that make the skin tingle, a gentle pinch upon my skin.” No laila, e huaka'i mai, journey with me through song to Nā Wai 'Ehā. Aloha nō, a hui hou. CLICK HERE to listen to and download the Morning Mana'o Podcast.