Kaona

'Ano'ai me ke aloha e nā makamaka aloha nui i ka 'ōlelo Hawai'i! Our Morning Mana'o today focuses on kaona and was inspired by Jamaica Osorio and her poetic interpretation of Kaona. Kaona literally translates as hidden meaning, as in poetry. It can be a concealed reference to a person, place or thing. Kaona is the double meaning that can bring good or bad fortune. When we look at Hawaiian music we find layer upon layer of kaona. A good haku mele composes a song rich with kaona. So rich that as you peel away the layers you find stories hidden within stories, messages and suggestions that play on our imaginations. So intertwined that you are left to wonder what the true meaning of the song is. Learning hula as a child Aunty Nina would share all kinds of Hawaiian music with us. As a child, I knew one level of kaona. As a grew up and began to understand the language, my understanding of these mele expanded as well. But, as I've gone through life experiences the kaona has become even richer and my understanding has deepened. When I first learned the mele Hi'ilawe I knew it to be a song about Waipi'o and the famous waterfall there. Later in life I came to understand that the kaona of the mele revealed a secret love affair talked about like the chattering of birds among the people of Waipi'o. Now kaona is not just limited to Hawaiian mele. There can be kaona when we speak. Our 'ōlelo no'eau are filled with kaona. Even our actions have kaona, double and hidden meanings to them. When Lili'uokalani was imprisoned in 'Iolani Palace, her people would bring her flowers wrapped in newspaper. There was kaona in their actions. This allowed Lili'u to be kept abreast of the latest news happening outside the palace windows. See the kaona. Their gift was much more than just flowers. Yes, indeed, he kaona ko nā mea a pau, everything has kaona. The more we understand our language, the more skillful we become in the art of kaona. Aloha nō, a hui hou.

CLICK HERE to listen to and download the Morning Mana'o Podcast.