Composed by: Edith Kekuhikuhipuʻuoneoʻnaalikiokohala Kanākaʻole
E Hō Mai
.
| E hō mai ka ʻike mai luna mai e
0 nā mea huna noʻeau no nā mele e E hō mai E hō mai E hō mai |
Grant us the knowledge from above
Concerning the hidden wisdom of songs, Grant, Grant, Grant us these things |
BACKGROUND
Kumu hula master and Hawaiian cultural and language expert, Edith K. Kanākaʻole (affectionately known as Aunty Edith), composed this oli (chant) for her hula troupe, Hālau 0 Kekuhi. The chant was originally performed by students at the beginning of class to request knowledge and wisdom from the ancestral deities to accomplish the task at hand.
Today, this oli is commonly used at the start of an event or small gathering to focus a groupʻs energies and ultimately carry out the kuleana (responsibility) they have undertaken. It is recommended that haumana (students) use this chant to help them seek knowledge and clear their minds of any negativity.