Composed in 1893 by Ellen Wright Prendergast, “Kaulana Nā Pua” which translates to “Famous Are the Flowers” stands as a deeply meaningful Hawaiian patriotic song. It was originally written to protest the illegal overthrow of Queen Lili’oukalani and the Hawaiian Kingdom, functioning as a defiant anthem of resistance, loyalty to the crown, and devotion to the land. According to Elber and Mahoe (1970), the song was historically considered sacred and not intended for dancing; however, modern hālau hula frequently perform it as a hula ʻauana suited for makuahine, creating a graceful dance for mature women.
In terms of musical characteristics, the arrangement features clean vocals accompanied by an ukulele. Throughout the performance, the vocal singing and ukulele playing maintain a well-balanced tempo, going together for it’s timing. Towards the end of the video, the musician taps on the body of the ukulele to use it as a drum before transitioning back to the regular tempo.
I initially discovered this piece by searching Google for “songs that originated in Hawaii,” where it was shown among the top results. I selected “Kaulana Nā Pua” because it brought back feeling of hot summer days free from school, and having always dreamed of visiting Hawaii, listening to its traditional music felt like a great way to experience the islands rich culture. The recording can be viewed by clicking on the link below.
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