The Significance Of Oli

March 15, 2022

The Significance Of Oli

In the ancient Hawai‘i, the native Hawaiians often used storytelling as a way to pass on traditions, values and historical information. One of the most common forms of story-telling was through mele (song) and oli (chant) that were typically paired with a dance or musical instruments. The Native Hawaiians composed elaborate chants which usually fell into four categories – genealogies, the tales of powerful aliʻi, stories of the ʻāina (land) and expressions of love. Most oli contain hidden meanings known as “kaona” – making it nearly impossible to fully understand this Hawaiian poetry. The Hawaiians believed that these oli or chants hold mana or power which is what makes them so sacred to the people. The oli is usually performed by a single chanter, without any help or kōkua from others.

To this day, the oli is still a crucial piece of the Hawaiian culture – used to help us understand our pastimes and how the ancient Hawaiians practiced and developed their storytelling. One of the most famous oli in the native Hawaiian culture is the story of Papa (mother of the islands) and Wākea who are known for being the creators of our islands. It talks about how the islands came to be and tells the story of the first kalo (taro) plant – a significant staple in the Hawaiian culture. This oli teaches us the importance of meiwi moʻokūʻauhau or our geneology because it signifies the cultural importance of recognizing those who came before us. 

Today, the tradition of the oli lives on with hālau hula or hula schools and those who are perpetuating the culture through language. If you are ever in the presence of an oli or chant – remind yourself of the cultural significance and mana that is being shared with every breath.