Tag: Handcrafted America

Soon we will enter the season of Kau, the hot dry days of summer. Kau begins with the Hilo moon of Ikiiki, which falls in 2023 on 19 May.

Lā is the Hawaiian word for both “sun” and for “day.” Ka Lā features prominently in stories of the akua Maui, one of which is told here:

There are many chants associated with the rising of the sun, and with awakening in the physical sense, as well as awakening spiritually and in knowledge and widom.

According to Nathaniel Emerson, who interviewed practitioners of the 19th Century,

Etiquette forbade anyone to wake the king by rude touch, but it was permissible for a near relative to touch his feet. When the exigencies of business made it necessary for a messenger, a herald, or a courtier to disturb the sleeping monarch, he took his station at the king’s feet and recited a serenade such as this:

Mele Koala (no ka Hula Pele)

E ala, e Kahiki-ku; 
E ala, e Kahiki-moe; 
E ala, e ke apapa nu’u: 
E ala, e ke apapa lani. 
5 Eia ka hoala nou, e ka lani la, e-e!
E ala oe!

E ala, ua ao, ua malamalama.
Aia o Kape’a ma, la, i-luna;
Ua hiki mai ka maka o Unulau: 

Ke hoolale mai la ke kupa holowa’a o Ukumehame,
Ka lae makani kaohi-wa’a o Papawai, 
Ka lae makani o Anahenahe la, e-e!
E ala oe!

E ala, ua no, ua malamalama;
Ke o a’e la ke kukuna o ka La i ka ili o ke kai;
Ke hahai a’e la, e like me Kumukahi
E hoaikane ana me Makanoni;
Ka papa o Apua, ua lohi i ka La.
E ala oe!

E ala, ua ao, ua malamalama;
Ke kau aku la ka La i Kawaihoa
Ke kolii aku la ka La i ka ili o ke kai;
Ke anai mai la ka iwa anai-maka o Lei-no-ai,
I ka luna o Maka-iki-olea,
I ka poli wale o Lehua la.
E ala oe!

Nathanial B. Emerson, Unwritten Literature of Hawaiʻi

Emerson’s translation follows:

Awake now, Kahiki-ku;
Awake now, Kahiki-moe;
Awake, ye gods of lower grade;
Awake, ye gods of heavenly rank.
A serenade to thee, O king.
Awake thee!

Awake, it is day, it is light;
The Day-god his arrows is shooting,
Unulau his eye far-flashing,
Canoe-men from Uku-me-hame
Are astir to weather the windy cape,
The boat-baffling cape, Papa-wai,
And the boisterous A-nahe-nahe.
Awake thee!

Awake, day is come and the light;
The sun-rays stab the skin of the deep;
It pursues, as did god Kumu-kahi
To companion with god Maka-noni;
The plain of Apua quivers with heat.
Awake thee!

Awake, ’tis day, ’tis light;
The sun stands over Waihoa,
Afloat on the breast of ocean;
The iwa of Leinoai is preening
On the cliff Maka-iki-olea,
On the breast of naked Lehua.
Awake thee! awake!

Translation by Nathaniel B. Emerson

For some brief information about the sun in many different cultures, enjoy reading this link to the Stanford Solar Center web page.

Interested in buying these or similar items? These hand-crafted copper suns will add a blaze of art to your décor!

Copper has been important to humans for over 10,000 years. It is one of the few metals that we find in nature in a directly usable metallic form. Because of this, humans have been using copper since before 8000BCE. Around 5000BCE, copper was the first metal to be smelted from sulfide ores. About 4000BCE copper was the first metal to be cast into a shape in a mold, and around 3500BCE, it was the first metal to be purposefully alloyed with another metal (tin) to create bronze.

Copper is antimicrobial, and ancient peoples noted that water stored in copper vessels did not develop slime.

Many spiritual properties also are claimed for copper, from calming to improved psychic and physical health.

When shopping for gifts, remember that copper is traditional for 7th anniversaries!

Our smaller individual pieces often are made from reclaimed copper. After collection, I clean and grade the copper, and sort it by shape and size, then decide how I will use it. Larger pieces may become lamps or other household items. Smaller pieces may become jewelry.

Through our educational work in schools, museums, libraries, and public parks, my husband and I teach environmental and cultural awareness. We do our best to apply what we teach in all aspects of our lives. Our livelihood comes from manufacturing custom lighting. We encourage our customers to use light responsibly, and work with architects and landscape designers to create lighting that is beautiful and environmentally friendly.

Hawaiʻi is the most isolated landmass on Earth. Transporting materials to the island, and transporting waste off of the island create a huge carbon footprint. By using scrap copper, glass, and other materials right here, instead of shipping it off-island for recycling, reduces the transportation costs by 50%.

Your purchase of these items not only supports an artist and small business, but it helps to reduce the waste stream and carbon footprint in Hawaiʻi.

For your support, I offer my deepest “Mahalo,” my thanks. Have a beautiful and blessed day.
Leilehua Yuen