The Mele Collection
The Mele Collection includes significant material about Hawaiian cultural traditions and history through chant and song. Generous support for this collection has been provided by the Native Hawaiian Culture and Arts Program (NHCAP).
The collections cover a spectrum of formats, including handwritten texts of 19th century chants, chants published in Hawaiian language newspapers, audio recordings, and commercial disks.
This unique collection provides a resource for the continuity of Hawaiian traditions.
Hula students, teachers, Hawaiian language and cultural researchers, experts and students have all had occasion to search the Mele Collection to uncover that special piece of Hawai'i's culture relevant to their needs.
An online Bishop Museum Mele (Chant & Song) Index makes the mele accessible to the interested researcher. The online Mele Index is a separate database that can be accessed through the Library's online catalogs.