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Mele Fong aka Ukulele Mele tells the story behind the Christmas song Jingle Bells. This song was written in 1857 by J. Pierpont for a Thanksgiving church service in Savannah, Georgia, where he taught Sunday school. The children’s performance was such a hit that they were asked to repeat it at Christmas time. Originally titled […]
Mele Fong aka Ukulele Mele tells the story behind the Hawaiian love song Ua Like No A Like (Sweet Constancy or My Heart’s Choice). Published in 1882, the song was written by Alice Everett, a contemporary of Queen Lili’uokalani. Sung as a duet, the song was also used as a solo by island prima donnas. […]
Mele Fong aka Ukulele Mele tells the story behind the Hawaiian song Sanoe. Published in 1897, the song was written by Princess Liliuokalani and her friend, Elizabeth Achuck. As the story goes, a high-born lady at King Kalakaua’s court attracted many male admirers, even though she was married. Due to her prominence, the composers kept […]
Mele Fong aka Ukulele Mele tells the story behind the Hawaiian song Pua Lilia. This song compares a loved one to the fragrant lily flower found in the forests. Published in 1916, the song was written by Alfred Alohikea (1884-1936), best known as the composer laureate of Kauai where he spent most of his life. […]
Mele Fong aka Ukulele Mele tells the story behind the hapa haole song Soft Green Seas. Published in 1934, the song was written by R. Alex Anderson, the most prolific composer in the hapa haole genre. Although Anderson never studied music and could not speak Hawaiian, he left behind a legacy of more than 200 […]
Mele Fong aka Ukulele Mele tells the story behind the Hawaiian song Papalina Lahilahi. This traditional song tells of longing and lovemaking. Attributed to Alice Johnson, the song was often sung by Hawaiian music legend Genoa Keawe and today remains a favorite of hula dancers. NOTE: Monthly Online Lessons by subscription are no longer available […]
Mele Fong aka Ukulele Mele tells the story behind the hapa haole song My Little Grass Shack. Composed by Bill Cogswell, Tommy Harrison, and Johnny Noble in 1933, the song tells of a homesick Hawaiian wanting to return to Hawaii Island, where Hawaii’s state fish, the Humuhumunukunukuapuaa goes swimming by. The lyric “e komo mai […]
Mele Fong aka Ukulele Mele tells the story behind the Hawaiian song Na Alii. Composed by Samuel Kuahiwi in 1928, the song pays tribute to Hawaii’s departed chiefs. The song tells two famous sayings. The first saying is Kamehameha the Great’s Law of the Splintered Paddle that guaranteed safe passage for women, children, and the […]
Mele Fong aka Ukulele Mele tells the story behind the hapa haole song Ukulele Lady. Published in 1925, the song was first made popular by American female singer and radio performer Vaughn De Leath (1894-1943) known for her crooning style of singing. The song was recorded by the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, a popular dance band […]
Mele Fong aka Ukulele Mele tells the story behind the traditional Hawaiian song Makalapua. Composed by David Nape (year unknown), the song started as a chant honoring Queen Lili’uokalani, Hawai’i’s last reigning monarch. NOTE: Monthly Online Lessons by subscription are no longer available from Mele’s website UkuleleMeleOnMaui.com. Instead, you can learn to play the Ukulele […]