Pewa: I Ola ka ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi i Kona Mele ʻia

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dc.contributor.advisorPerreira, Hiapokeikikāne K.
dc.contributor.authorLum, Nicholas Kealiʻi
dc.contributor.departmentIndigenous Language and Culture Revitalization
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-18T22:47:15Z
dc.date.available2026-06-18T22:47:15Z
dc.date.issued2026-03
dc.description.degreePh.D.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10790/44489
dc.subjectIndigenous studies
dc.subjectHawaiian music
dc.subjectinnovation
dc.subjectmele Hawaiʻi
dc.subjectPewa
dc.subjecttradition
dc.titlePewa: I Ola ka ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi i Kona Mele ʻia
dc.typeThesis
dcterms.abstractMusic has the innate ability to capture listeners, and for this reason, mele Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian song) can be used as an instrument to captivate a modern listening audience with the hope that this leads to an interest in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) itself. However, perhaps the modern ear is not attracted to traditional forms of mele Hawaiʻi, but is intrigued by genres of music that are widely popular today.I created the musical entity “Pewa” with the intention of innovation in mele Hawaiʻi, combining traditional Hawaiian songwriting processes with modern forms of music. This, however, raises the following guiding research question: How does one innovate responsibly within mele Hawaiʻi? To further explore this question, Chapter One begins with an autoethnography to explain my connection to the research topic as a puʻukani (musician) and haku mele (Hawaiian songwriter). Chapter Two analyzes previous literature to form a definition of what mele Hawaiʻi truly is; to document the history of change within mele Hawaiʻi; and to analyze the way in which other native cultures were impacted by innovation in their respective traditional musical forms. Chapter Three explains the research methodology that revolves around innovative songwriting, as well as interviews with highly-respected haku mele who have engaged in innovative songwriting themselves. Chapter Four presents the findings of the research by way of song analysis, as well as analysis of interview responses. My hope is that this research serves as a framework for responsible innovation in other traditional art forms of Hawaiʻi, as well as in traditional art forms of other native cultures seeking linguistic and cultural revitalization.
dcterms.extent161 pages
dcterms.languagehaw
dcterms.publisherUniversity of Hawaii at Hilo
dcterms.rightsAll UHH dissertations and theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission from the copyright owner.
dcterms.typeText
local.identifier.alturihttps://www.proquest.com/LegacyDocView/DISSNUM/32578289

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