Behind the Scenes: Composing the song, "Mele E Hoʻi ka Pele i Halemaumau"

I read this article about Hawaiian Kilauea volcano eruption:  https://www.npr.org/2025/08/23/nx-s1-5513910/hawaii-kilauea-volcano-erupts-again-shoots-lava, and wrote a traditional song about it called "Mele for Kilauea’s Eruption"

I Created an original Hawaiian mele in traditional style, inspired by the August 22, 2025, Kilauea eruption, honoring Pele and the lava flow, using vivid imagery of Halemaumau Crater, the fountain of molten rock, and the cultural reverence described in the NPR article. Include traditional Hawaiian poetic elements like kaona (hidden meaning) and nature imagery, suitable for hula accompaniment.

This was a bit of a stretch for me, while I've been teaching people how to play ukulele and slack-key guitar for a couple decades, the language was a bit tricky for me and I had to get some help from Google Translate, and a colleague who speaks it. 

Enjoy: https://adamsweet.bandcamp.com/track/mele-e-ho-i-ka-pele-i-halemaumau

Mele: E Hoʻi ka Pele i Halemaumau

Eia ka wahine, e Pele e,

I ka lua o Halemaumau,

Ka uila o ke ahi, ka hū o ke kai,

ʻO ka fountain e lele i ka lani.

Ka hū o ka pele, ka wela o ka honua,

I ka pōhaku i hoʻoheheʻe ʻia,

E kani ana ka leo o ke kenika,

I ka wā e puka ai ka wahine.

ʻO ke aka o ka uahi i ka lani,

Ka mālamalama o ke ahi i ka pō,

E hoʻomana iā Pele, ka wahine ai honua,

I ka ʻāina i hānau ʻia e ke ahi.

E hīmeni i ka mele o ka ʻāina,

E ka hula, e ka leo o ke au,

E hoʻonani i ka makuahine,

ʻO Pele, ka mea nāna i hana.