Van-Jon Paio is a gifted composer of mele in the Hawaiian language. ʻO ʻOe E Kuʻu Māmā speaks of affection and aloha for a beloved mother and Maui No E Ka ʻOi was written as part of a greeting for Oprah Winfrey. Because we believe the Hawaiian language should be heard, Pūpū A ʻO ʻEwa is proud to feature Hawaiian language scholar and Leeward CC graduate Kepoʻo Keliʻipaʻakaua reciting these mele. We present the award-winning mele of Hālau ʻIke O Puʻuloa and Leeward CC student Van-Jon Paio, narrated by Kepoʻo Keliʻipaʻakaua.

Meet the artists: Van Jon-Paio and Kepoʻo Keliʻipaʻakaua

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ʻO ʻOe E Kuʻu Māmā

Maui No E Ka ʻOi

Credits: Videos by Leeward Community College Educational Media Center; bio photo courtesy of Van-Jon Paio, post feature photo by Kahoʻolemana Naone.