I chose the song Pua ‘Olena because it was a Hawaiian song I was familiar with as I had performed it in high school with the ukulele orchestra for solo ensemble. It’s also just a song that I have come to like in general and listen to fairly often.
‘Olena is a native Hawaiian flower, also known as Hawaiian turmeric. ‘Olena is a Polynesian Introduced plant, brought over on a canoe. In Hawaii it’s usually found in mesic valleys in areas that were once inhabited by early Hawaiians. It has dark green leaves up to 4 ft. in length that come out of what looks like a dark-yellow or orange root but is actually an underground stem. The flower part of the plant looks like one big plant but is really made up of several smaller flower petals, usually white or purplish white in color. The flower is highly fragrant and easily distinguished amongst other members of the ginger family. ‘Olena is a highly valued plant in Hawaiian culture as it is used for occasions such as treating illness, adding spice to food, and dying material. It has also been valued spiritually as Hawaiians consider it to have spiritual powers, or mana.
Pua ‘Olena is one of many traditional Hawaiian pieces and talks about the beautiful flower of the ‘Olena plant. The song consists of mainly the Hawaiian language but also some English phrases. It’s typically played with a ukulele and vocals, solo or with a group. The song is also often accompanied by a hula dance.
Provide Feedback