Na Mele o Hawai'i Nei 101 Hawaiian Songs (Elbert & Mahoe) Reference Collection: (1970)

 These lists are a gift to all who love to sing Hawaiian songs.  Most of our personal and published song-collections include only text and chords, and all we need to launch into singing a song is get the first few notes or the first musical phrase. All too often the lament, "Eh, how does this song go...?" can dampen an otherwise enthusiastic family kanikapila ("domestic music making") session. This reference website exists solely to help keep alive our kanikapila tradition.
This is a reference collection of incipits, that is, the first few notes of a song. Because this is an incipit reference list, no current or former copyrighted ownership is infringed upon, and none intended either. This purely instructional list is a teaching reference,  assembled as a gift for those who love to kanikapila for their personal domestic/school use.  These webpages offer two means to recall a song:
      1) Solfege Musicologists have long used  "solfege" as non-notational recalling device. Solfege explanation.
      2) Midi (.mid) Soundclips If your computer sound-card is configured properly, you can listen to these. There are several types of soundclips:  a) The I (incipit) first few notes or musical phrase:  b) The M (entire melody line) of the song:  c) Mondoy Music's arrangement.   Use of any midi accompaniment must not go beyond instructional home/school use. Mondoy Music has some sheet music; Click here to see a sample of sheet music piano accompaniment.
Some of these Hawaiian lyrics can be found in the recently published He Mele Aloha A Hawaiian Songbook ('Oli'Oli Productions, LLC, Honolulu; 2003)
Please support the continued growth of Hawaiian music in our community by purchasing composers' published song books and other song collections, as well as recordings of Hawaiian music. Many books may be out of print but available at public libraries; please mälama these old and venerable books, and do return them. 
These web pages are for home/school study purposes only. Karaoke-style use of  soundclips is kapu; legally forbidden.  There is no claim of definitive rendition of these songs, just approximations of current (sometimes former) usage - Different performers and island locales and venues provide a variety of interpretations. This is an on-going project that will take time to complete. Your suggestions, corrections and insights (and historical data)  may prove helpful; do keep in touch. Mahalo!
Please note that  a few of these songs are still the copyrighted © property of song owners/publishers. Please contact those song owners for legitimate recording permissions. I do not have a list of song owners/publishers; sorry.
Go fetch your instruments and Nä Mele o Hawai'i Nei book and enjoy your kanikapila!
Created Feb 2004  ©2004 Mondoy Music |  Last updated: 08/12/2019  

Songs in ALPHABETICAL Order  NMHN  Nä Mele o Hawai'i Nei, Elbert & Mahoe; University of Hawai'i Press, Honolulu, 1970)
TITLE                       Ref pg ( & midi) Solfege           Authorship (edited)  Notes (fr. source)

Color Code:  Incipit Only   Entire Melody Only   MM Arrangement
THIS FILE WILL BE UPDATED
A Kona Hema 'O Ka Lani NMHN 031 dSdTd, dSd chant, Maui The King at South Kona v. K1 124.3
Adiós Ke Aloha NMHN 028 SSSddTdr Leleiöhoku Adios, My Love
Ahi Wela NMHN 028 Anon. Older version
Ahi Wela NMHN 029 Doirin, Lizzie & Beckley, Mary; 1891 Hot Fire
'Ahulili NMHN 029 Ha'i, Scott
'Äinahau NMHN 030 MFSSdrm Likelike
'Alekoki NMHN 032 Lunalilo; 1850
'Älika NMHN 033 Kapa'a, Charles The Arctic
'Älika Spoehr Hula NMHN 034 Wong, Ka'upena; 1961 Alexander Spoehr Hula
Aloha Ku'u Home Käne'ohe see Ku'u Home O Nä Pali Häuliuli
Aloha 'Oe NMHN 035 SdmrdTdLS Lili'uokalani; 1877 Farewell To You
'Auhea 'O Ka Lani La? NMHN 036 Anon., mid 1800's Where is the Royal Chief?

Beautiful 'Ilima NMHN 037 De Fries, Emma; ca.1870
Bili Boi NMHN 037 mfsssd Nä Mele Ho'onanea Billy Boy
E Nihi Ka Hele NMHN 039 Helani Glee Club; ca. 1887 Tread Softly
'Ekolu 'Iole Makapö NMHN 038 Not mentioned Three Blind Mice
'Ekolu Mea Nui NMHN 039 ssls, ltl, td' Näwähine, Robert; ca. 1930 Three Important Things

Hälona NMHN 040 Elia, J.
Hanohano Hanalei NMHN 041 'Alohikea, Alfred; 1920's The Glory of Hanalei
Hawai'i Aloha NMHN 042 drmmfmmddLS Lyons. Lorenzo; ca.1852 Beloved Hawai'i NH 002, NHE 135
Hawai'i Pono'i NMHN 043 mmmmrr Kaläkaua / Berger; ca.1874 Hawai'i's Own
Hawaiian Rough Riders NMHN 042 SdSdmls Anon.; ca. 1908
He Inoa Nö Ka'iulani, NMHN 044 mfsd'td'r'td'r'm' Lil'uokalani; 1878 A Name Song for Ka'iulani
He Inoa Nö KVna'u NMHN 045 Ka'ö'ö, Anton; ca 1850's (sic) A Name Song for KVna'u Same tune (almost) as Lil'iu E
He Kanikau Nö Leleiöhoku NMHN 045 Lili'uokalani; 1877 A Dirge for Leleiöhoku
He Mele Lähui Hawai'i NMHN 047 Lili'uokalani; 1866 Song of the Hawaiian Nation
He 'Ono NMHN 048 ssmmdddLSSS Mossman, Bina; 1928 Delicious
Hele Au I Kaleponi NMHN 047 SdSdrmm Mossman, Bina,; 1935 (sic) I'm Going to California
Hi'ilawe NMHN 049 Kuakini, Mrs.; 1902
Hilo Hanakahi NMHN 050 dmSLS, dmdTrd Nälimu, Keola; 1925
Hilo March NMHN 050 mmr#mdd, TdrdLdSS Ae'a, Joseph K.; 1881 Hole Waimea NMHN 052 Ssdrm, mflfm Kawaihau Glee Club; 1889 (?) Spear-makers Of Waimea
Holobolo Ka'a NMHN 053 dddmmssssd'd' Kinney, Clarence; ca. 1930's (?) Joy Ride
Ho'oheno NMHN 054 Heleluhe, Jack / Ae'a, Joseph K. Infatuation
Hula O Makee NMHN 055 Contended, see HMA 079 The Makee Hula
Ia 'Oe E Ka Lä E 'Alohi Nei NMHN 055 Nähinu; 1881 For You, O Glittering Sun
'Iniki Mälie NMHN 056 Kahale, James; 1917 Gentle Pinches

Ka Bana Kinai Rama NMHN 057 Unknown tune Rum-Quenching Band
Ka Makani Kä'ili Aloha NMHN 058 mrdmssT Käne, Matthew H.; 1916 Love Snatched By The Wind
Ka Moa'e NMHN 059 drmff, ffmrr Hiram, Solomon; 1916 The Tradewind
Ka Ua Loku NMHN 062 'Alohikea, Alfred U.; 1920's Pouring Rain
Ka Wiliwiliwai NMHN 064 Smmmrrd Lili'uokalani; 1896 The Lawn Sprinkler H 084
Ka'ililauokekoa NMHN 057 ddmrddTLTdTTSS / mrdS refr. Waia'u, Henry; ca. 1923
Kaleponi see Hele Au i Kaleponi
Kämau Ki'aha NMHN 059 Unknown tune Tip The Glass, a Toasting Song
Kamuela King NMHN 060 Wilcox, J. Kaona N.; 1936 Samuel King
Käne'ohe NMHN 060 Kong, Abbie & Noble; late 1930's
Käua I Ka Huahua'i NMHN 061 mrdSdTdrm Leleiöhoku; ca. 1860's We Two in the Spray
Kaulana Nä Pua NMHN 062 d'd'd'd'd'd'd'smsl s Prendergrast, Ellen Wright; 1893 Famous are the Flowers
Ke Ao Nani NMHN 065 Pukui, M. K. 'Ohana The Beautiful World
Ke Ka'upu, NMHN 065 Leleiöhoku; ca. 1860's Albatross 2 tunes extant, newer one fr. late 1930's
Kilakila 'O Haleakalä NMHN 066 Mixed Origins, see HMA 126 Majestic Haleakalä
Kokohi NMHN 066 dddmmmm, dSSSTrr Lili'uokalani; 1876 To Hold Forever see QS 052 Na Wai Mäpuna
Kö Ma'i Hö'eu'eu NMHN 067 Anon. Your Lively Ma'i
Koni Au I Ka Wai NMHN 068 sslsmSSd Kaläkaua; 1888 I Throb for Liquid
Kupa Landing NMHN 068 Kauwë, Lot; 1890's Cooper Landing
Ku'u Home O Nä Pali Häuliuli NMHN 069 Hopkins, Louisa; 1939My Home and Its Green Cliffs
Ku'u 'Ilio

NMHN 070 Lira Kamali'i My Dog (London Br. is Falling / or Yankee Doodle)
Ku'u Ipo I Ka He'e Pu'e One NMHN 070 Ssmmmrrfsfm Likelike; ca. 1870's My Sweetheart in the Rippling Hills Of Sand
Ku'u Lei NMHN 071 Pukui; 1949 My Lei
Ku'u Lei Püpü NMHN 072 Pukui; 1952 My Shell Lei
Ku'u Pua I Paoakalani NMHN 072 Lili'uokalani; 1895 My Flower at Paoakalani

Läna'i NMHN 073 Robins, Mary Keliiaukai / Noble
Lei 'Awapuhi NMHN 073 Kealaka'i, Mekia; 1890's Ginger Lei
Mai Hö'eu'eu Mai 'Oe NMHN 074 Don't Hurry
Maika'i Kaua'i NMHN 075 Kapa'akea / Waia'u, Henry; date? Kauai BeautyMakalapua NMHN 075 sssfmmmmmrmsf Contended, see HMA 164 Profuse Bloom
Manu 'Ö'ö NMHN 077 Anon. Honey-eater
Moanalua NMHN 077 Nape, David; date?
Moloka'i Nui A Hina NMHN 078 Käne, Matthew H.; early 1900's Great Moloka'i of Hina
Nä Ali'i NMHN 079 Kuahiwi, Samuel; ca. 1928 The Chiefs
Nä Hala O Naue NMHN 080 Kahinu, J.; ca. 1888 The Pandanus of Naue
Nä Ka Pueo NMHN 081 Anon.; late 1800's (?) From the Pueo
Nä 'Ono O Ka 'Äina NMHN 082 Kauila, Abraham; date? Delicacies Of The Land
Niu Haohao NMHN 083 Mossman, Bina; 1924 Young Coconuts

Old Plantation NMHN 083 SdTdmslsT Montano, M.J. / Nape, David; 1890's
Pa'ahana NMHN 084 Anon.; 1899 (see HMA 210)
Palisa NMHN 084 Anon. @Kalaupapa?; ca. 1915 Paris
Pua Lilia NMHN 085 'Alohikea, Alfred U.;1916 Lily
Puia Ka Nahele NMHN 085 Lili'uokalani; 1868 Forest Imbued with Fragrance
Pulupe Nei 'Ili I Ke Anu NMHN 086 SddTLSM Anon.; 1916 My Skin Is Wet and Cold
Puna Paia 'A'ala NMHN 087 Lili'uokalani; 1868 Puna's Fragrant Glades
Püpü O 'Ewa NMHN 087 Kawaihau Glee Club; 1870's Shells of 'Ewa
Queen's Prayer NMHN 088 ssfmrd Lili'uokalani; 1895

Remember, Be Sure and Be There NMHN 089 Elia, J.; date?
Royal Hawaiian Hotel NMHN 089 Robins, Mary Püla'a; 1927
Sassy NMHN 090 Kokolia, J. or Hiram, Solomon; 1890's
Sassy (Maui Version) NMHN 091 Kuloloia, Wally; date?
Sweet Lei Mamo NMHN 092 Huelani, date? Sweet Lei of Saffron Flower
Tutu NMHN 092 Lili'uokalani; ca. 1895 Granny

Wai O Ke Aniani NMHN 093 Anon.; 1897 Crystal Water
Waipi'o NMHN 094 Kaläinaina, Sam Li'a Jr. & Smith, M.;1860's (?)
Wehiwehi 'Oe NMHN 095 Kalama, Sylvester; date? You Are So Decorative

CHRISTMAS SONGS

Auld Lang Syne NMHN 098 SdTdmrd#d tr. Lili'u-o-ka-lani
Auld Lang Syne NMHN 099 Paradise of the Pacific 1891 version
Auld Lang Syne NMHN 100 Ka Nupepa Kuakoa 1893 version Betelehema Iki Ë NMHN 100 mmmr#msfL tr. Kahale, Edward, b. 1891 0 Little Town of Bethlehem
Deck the Halls NMHN 100 sfmrdrmd tr. Pukui; 1968
E Hele Mai 'Oukou Ka Po'e Mana'o'i'o NMHN 101 ddSdrS tr. Lyons. Lorenzo; ca. 1850's 0 Come All Ye Faithful NH 089, NHE 035
Hämau 'E Nä Känaka NMHN 101 SddTdmmr tr. Lyons. Lorenzo; ca. 1850's Hark! The Herald Angels Sing NH 086, NHE 040
He Pö La'ela'e NMHN 102 SmTrdLSLS tr. Kahale, Edward, b. 1891 It Came Upon The Midnight Clear NH 088, NHE 039
Kana Kaloka NMHN 103 msSSmmsSS Pukui; early 1950's Santa Claus
Kani Nä Pele NMHN 103 mmm,mmm Brown, Ronald Jingle Bells
Little Drummer Boy NMHN 104 drmmmfmfm tr. Pukui; 1968 / Katherine Davis, Henry Onorati, Harry Simeone
Mele Kalikimaka Iä Käkou NMHN 104 Unknown? Merry Christmas for Us
Pö La'i Ë NMHN 105 slsm tr. Desha, Stephen & Mary; date? Silent Night
Pömaika'i Wale Kö Ke Ao NMHN 105 dtlsfmrd tr. Lyons. Lorenzo; ca. 1850's Joy to the World NH 080, NHE 043