Hawaiian Oli (chant) performed by Iwikau’ikaua Joaquin
Breadfruit with a rainbow.
Courtesy of Dr. J.B. Friday.
Noho ana ke akua I ka nāhelehele
the god dwells in the thick vegetation
i ʻālai ʻia e ke kīʻohuʻohu e ka ua koko
that is hidden by the low lying mists and the low lying rainbow
e nā kino malu i ka lani malu e hoe
o beings sheltered in the heavens, sheltered continuously
e hoʻoulu mai ana o Laka i kōna mau kahu
Laka will confer growth on her caretakers
O mākou, o mākou, o mākou no ā.
It is we, it is we, it is we indeed!
Noho ana ke akua is an oli or chant that is done as a way of asking permission to enter into a place where Laka the goddess of Hula resides. Laka has many Kinolau or endemic plant body forms that she takes the shape or essence of. It is asking that she inspires and protects those that utter this oli, as we are the ones who take care of and frequent the forest.
