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Glite Dictionary
🎶 A Hawaiian song 🎶 To sing or chant
mele

mele

1 9.9
A traditional Hawaiian song or chant that tells a story and honors people
  • noun
  • /ˈmeɪleɪ/
  • Literature
translation icon : mele
  • " The meaning and symbolism are deep, all the way to the mele, or songs, that have been composed specifically for Aulani," said Kahulu De Santos, the resort's cultural adviser.

Examples

  • To haku means "to weave"; mele is a song; therefore, haku mele means to compose songs or verses, but not with the trappings of "writer" as we know in the English language.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • To haku means "to weave"; mele is a song; therefore, haku mele means to compose songs or verses, but not with the trappings of "writer" as we know in the English language.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • Kagan, Kagan, Mele class, this gal in, in the new in the news.

  • Kagan, Kagan, Mele class, this gal in, in the new in the news.

  • Alright, y'all, it's almost time for the mele... the Kanikapila luau drum show!

    Couples Retreat (2009)

  • During the celebration, the local musicians performed a beautiful mele honoring the island's history.

  • The elders gathered to share their stories through mele, expressing gratitude for their ancestors.

  • At the festival, the highlight was a traditional mele that captivated everyone with its emotional storytelling.

Surface Forms

mele singular
melodies plural

Etymology

Mele comes from Hawaiian mele and means 'song' or 'chant'. A helpful way to remember it is to think of mele like 'melody'—both are about singing, so a mele is a traditional Hawaiian song used to tell stories or honor people.