Animals often appear in the mele (songs), moʻolelo (stories and history), and kipuka (connection to nature) of our shared, rich Hawaiian culture.
So for the last speaker in her 2022 Companion Animals and Society guest lecture series, veterinarian Julie Bennington in the Dept. of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences invited Hawaiian musician Mailani Makaʻinaʻi to her classroom. Mailani, an alumna of the Hawaiian Studies Program, entertained and educated the students – not just by performing beautiful music – but also by immersing them in stories and personal anecdotes of Hawaiian mythology, how these legends helped form the Hawaiian language, and the role of animals in shaping these historical cornerstones.
“Mele have a magical way of uniting people,” says Julie. “Mailani is my friend from when I used to dance hula in Halau Na’Pualani Kuikanani under the direction of Kumu Hula Kau’i Dalire. The students really loved hearing Mailani talk story, sing,and promote our rich Hawaiian culture and traditions.”