Hālau ʻŌhi‘a traveled from the island of Hawai‘i to share traditional mele and oli (chants) with visitors at the 2024 Smithsonian Folklife Festival’s Indigenous Voices of the Americas program. Oli refers to both the chant culture and the vocalized components, while mele are poetic or lyrical compositions. Together, they nurture community and harmony with the natural world. Tone, rhythm, and meaning in oli are as diverse as its uses, which include storytelling, genealogy, and ceremony.

Kekuhi Keali’ikanaka’oleohaililani, leader of Hālau ʻŌhi‘a, invited the audience to chant with her and learn how to request permission to enter a new landscape and introduce themselves to it. This video includes a shortened and adapted version of the original ten-line chant.

Nicholas Aguirre Zafiro is a senior at the George Washington University and a media intern at the Center of Folklife and Cultural Heritage. His audiovisual stories are centered around humanity, culture, and authenticity.