Display of Buke Mele Lahui at the Hawaiian Historical Society's Reading Room. Only pre-paid copies will be available at the Washington Place program. Call (808) 537-6271 to order your copy in advance.

The Hawaiian Historical Society is pleased to invite its members and friends to a special program at Washington Place, co-hosted by Governor Linda Lingle, to celebrate the publication of the book Buke Mele Lahui/Book of National Songs. This facsimile reprint of the 1895 Honolulu publication of more than one hundred Hawaiian political and patriotic songs is the second in a series of Hawaiian Language Reprints planned by the Society.

The program, Buke Mele Lahui, National Songs of Hawai‘i, will take place on Saturday, September 27, 2003, at Washington Place, 320 S. Beretania St., Honolulu, from 7:00 to 9:00 P.M. There is no charge, but reservations are required and seating is limited. Please note that no one will be admitted without an advance reservation. R.S.V.P. to the Society’s office at 537-6271 by Monday, September 22nd. Parking is available at the State Dept. of Health on Miller Street, ewa of Punchbowl St.

Panel presenters and their topics are:

• Leilani Basham, Hawaiian language instructor at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa and researcher, will discuss the political and historical context of the mele in Buke Mele Lahui.
• Dr. Noenoe Silva, assistant professor of political science and Hawaiian language at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, will discuss Buke Mele Lahui in relationship to Queen Lili‘uokalani.
• Dr. Amy Ku‘uleialoha Stillman, associate professor of music and American culture and director of Asian/Pacific Islander studies at the University of Michigan, will present Na Leo Hula no Na Mele Lahui: Tunes Our Ancestors Sang.
• Keali‘i Reichel, composer, chanter, and kumu hula of Halau ‘o Ke‘alaokamaile, will share the poetry of Buke Mele Lahui for chant and dance.
• Kihei DeSilva, composer, researcher, writer, and teacher of Hawaiian mele and culture, will compare the mele Kue Hao o ka Lanakila to other train chants for the Kalakauas.
• M. Puakea Nogelmeier, assistant professor of Hawaiian language at the University of Hawai‘i atManoa, composer, and researcher, will explore the poetic form in Buke Mele Lahui.

Washington Place was built by Capt. John O. Dominis during the reign of King Kamehameha III and became home to Lili‘uokalani for more than fifty years—from 1862, when she arrived as a new bride, until 1917, the year of her death. It was her nephew, Prince Kalaniana‘ole, who suggested that Washington Place be purchased by the Territory to serve as the governor’s mansion.

The Society extends a warm aloha to the staff of Washington Place for their assistance in presenting this program.