| |
|
|
Source: The composer, part of the Mary Kaye trio, wrote this song to honor the maile (alyxia olivaeformis), a lei symbolic of love and used at many celebrations. In olden traditions it was a sign of the gods and one of five plants used to decorate the kuaha (altar) of Laka, goddess of hula. Legends tell of the five Maile Sisters, minor goddesses of hula, who could take human or plant forms. The sisters are remembered today by the five varieties of maile: maile pâkaha (blunt leaf maile), maile lau nui (large leaf maile), maile lau li`i (small leaf maile), and maile kaluhea (sweet smelling maile) |