Edith Rice Plews (1900-1976) was born at Kalapaki, Kaua‘i and was considered an expert on the subject of Hawaiian poetry. An abridged account of parts of a lecture titled “Poetry” that she presented at Kamehameha Schools, O‘ahu during the early
Edith Rice Plews (1900-1976) was born at Kalapaki, Kaua‘i and was considered an expert on the subject of Hawaiian poetry.
An abridged account of parts of a lecture titled “Poetry” that she presented at Kamehameha Schools, O‘ahu during the early 1930s is given here.
The equivalent word for poetry in the Hawaiian language is mele, or song. In old Hawai‘i, all meles, or Hawaiian poems, were always chanted, and each had at least four meanings: (1) The meaning that appears to be true, but not necessarily; (2) The vulgar meaning; (3) The mythological, historical and topographical meaning; and (4) The deeply hidden meaning.
And there are at least nine classes of Hawaiian poetry: (1) Mele kaua, the war songs; (2) Mele koihonua, which detail and celebrate the genealogies and exploits of chiefs and heroes; (3) Mele kuo, songs of praise or triumph; (4) Mele olioli, emotional songs in the form of an address to a particular subject; (5) Mele paeaea, vulgar songs; (6) Mele inoa, in praise of some person or some thing; (7) Mele ipo, love songs; (8) Mele kanikau, dirges or laments; and (9) Mele pule, prayers.
In the early 1920s, Ms. Plews helped her grandfather, William Hyde Rice of Kaua‘i, translate a few Hawaiian legends he’d collected into English. His book of legends is considered closest to the original Hawaiian in flavor, phrasing and rhythm, and his translations of Hawaiian poetry are equally literal.
Here is part of a translation made by William Hyde Rice of a mele kaua: “I remember the days when were were young. Swelled now is the limu of Hanalei. Swelled above the eyes is the cloud of morning. In vain is the battle at the hands of children. The great battle will follow as the deep sea follows the shallow water.”
