Ki mua lyrics

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KI MUA album
All songs written by Opetaia Foa'i with exception of 'Pate Pate' which was written by Opetaia Foa’i and Malcolm Smith, the beginning of 'Vaka atua' and 'Aue Kapaku' which are traditional Tokelauan songs.

Track 1/ Ki mua (to the fore/future)

This song is dedicated to my mother and father and those of their generation who at great personal sacrifice brought their families to New Zealand. It is in appreciation of their courage and determination in adjusting to a different language, different culture along with other disadvantages in order to give their children a better education.

Tuvalu Dancers

taunuku mai i tatou i tenei nuku fou
te kehekehe mai
faigata o te olaga te fakafita a tatou
hoga hoga mai

e fia malamalama ki tatou
i te gagana ma na uiga o ki latou
fakalogologo ki ei
fakatu ai au tautahi
taumahai tatou tokolahi
faka holoholo ki ei

e fano ai au i toku mafaufau
i te kukula mate filemu

tokaga ki mea oku matua
te fehili kua laga a tu ki mua
ko matou e fia kai ite kavei
te malau pulaka ma te fekei

kua manatua na taimi ma na uiga fakafiafia
miti miti mai
te mimita lahi ki haiga ko na uiga fakatahi
fitikitiki mai

galulue mai ki mua nei
tahahao mai ki mua nei
pehepehe mai ki mua nei
fatele mai ki mua nei

KI MUA Translation
(To the future)

Verse 1

When we arrived
in this new land
it was so different
we struggled with the life
it was very hard on us
but we were determined

Verse 2

We struggled to understand
this language and new way
of doing things
We listened hard
I stood up among
the many who were adjusting
moving towards understanding
together

chorus

But I go there in my mind
The red sky and the peacefulness
remembering what my parents taught me
many questions come to the fore
also craving for familiar food
The Malau (fish) pulaka(taro) and fekei (octopus dish)

verse 3
I remember times of great joy
always dreaming about it
the pride in living among my close family
keeping it together

chant

We’re working to the future
we’re playing to the future
we’re singing to the future
we’re dancing to the future

Track 2/ Lua afe (2,000)

A Song to celebrate the new millennium. It is a wish for people of all colours, races and religions to come together with no prejudices, just a willingness to live together. This agreement is celebrated at the break of the new millennium.

hauni mai
heheke mai
ko tagata ianu kehe
na tagata ianu kehe

tatou tagata nei
koutou tagata nei
o fakatahi
o fano atu (Ki te) Lua afe
(ki te) Lua afe

Track 3/ Ke ke kitea (so you can see)

It is a great concern that the small Islands in the Pacific, each with it’s own unique culture, will succumb to the effects of "Global warming". As the temperature of the sea rises the tiny algae that feed the coral are unable to survive causing the Islands to gradually disappear. Eventually the people of these Islands will be forced to leave and entire cultures will be lost. This song is a personal invitation to all those in positions of power to come and visit these Islands so they can see how beautiful they are and how happy the people are who live on them. I believe if they did just that, they would help prevent this disaster.
Tokelau is made up of three atolls with a total landmass of 4 square miles

Tokelau is made up of three atolls with a total landmass of 4 square miles

LYRICS Translations

Verse 1
e ui lava ki tatou e mamao
even though we live far apart
e tatau ai koe ke ahiahi mai
you should come visit us
ke ke kitea ite gali o tenei lalolagi
so you can see how beautiful my world is

Chorus
ke ke kitea   so you can see
ite matou lalolagi   my world
ke ke kitea   so you can see
i te gali o tenei lalolagi   how beautiful this world is

Verse 2
ke ve koe ko au
If you could be with me
se aho fakatahi
for just one day
iloa ai e koe
you would then understand
mea lea atu ai au
what I’m on about
ke ke kitea ite gali o tenei lalolagi
so you would see how beautiful this world is

Chorus
ke ke kitea   so you can see
ite matou lalolagi   my world
ke ke kitea   so you can see
i te gali o tenei lalolagi   how beautiful this world is

Verse 3
e ui lava ki tatou e mamao
even though we live so far apart
e tatou ai koe ke ahi ahi mai
you should come visit us
ke ke kitea i te gali o tenei lalolagi
so you can see how beautiful this world is

e talitonu ai au   so you can see
i toku loto nei   the beauty in my world
ke kitea e koe so you can see
to matou olaga   the beauty in our world
so you can see
the wonderful life we live

Track 4/ Pate Pate (Log drum)

Courting fun between groups of young men and women. Much of the message is expressed in the dances, which are vibrant and provocative. This is an accepted way in which to communicate with the one they love. The boldness, the teasing, the confidence is openly expressed for all to see, spurred on and driven by the power of the log drums.
Dancing to the log drums

4/ PATE PATE (log drums) by Opetaia Foa’i

Courting fun between groups of young men and women. Much of the message is expressed in the dances, which are vibrant and provocative. This is an accepted way in which to communicate with the one they love. The boldness, the teasing, the confidence is openly expressed for all to see, spurred on and driven by the power of the log drums.

LYRICS and Translations

tu la ki luga ke fai malama
get up stand up let your feelings be known
taimi tenei e fai na hiva
the time has come to perform the dance
tu la ki luga ke fai malama
get up stand up let your intentions be known
lue lue malie te gali o na hiva
swaying ever so sweetly the message in the dance

aue aue Oh! Oh!
tama mimita   the boys are very bold
aue aue Oh! Oh!
teine mimita the girls are very bold
aue aue Oh! Oh!
hihiva mimita the dancers are very bold
aue aue Oh! Oh!
kikila mai la fakaakiali atu   Watch me now, it’s my turn to show

e a mai tau faiva e a mai
“How is the fishing with you, how is it?” (Girl)
taku ika e fofou ai au
“The fish that I truly long for” (Boy)
e a mai tau faiva e a mai
“How is the fishing with you, how is it? (Girl)

CHORUS
hihiva ki luga hihiva mai ve
dance on up, dance just like that
hihiva malie ki te pate pate
dancing ever so sweetly to the Pate Pate (logdrum)

chant: hiva ki luga hiva ki lalo   dance on up, dance on down
hiva malie ki te pate pate
Dancing ever so sweetly to the rhythms of the log drum

Track 5/ Hea la koe iei (Take that)

This song is inspired by those working at the 531PI Pacific Island radio station in New Zealand. After announcing the signing of the worldwide distribution deal for the first Te Vaka album, Amosa Nemia, proudly introduced a song off the album by saying "hea la koe iei" which means "take that".

faitala au i te po i luga o te letioi
fano ake fakaali te tala nei
taku tala manumalo tenei

te lalolagi e kalaga mai
kikila mai ki ta tou nei
Tokelau ka hoholo halalau koe
tou igoa e manogi mai
ve he sei

Matini hauni na pehe nei
Fale lau mai na tala fou
fakalogo ki tala e fai mai
fai mai Amosa se tala nei
taku lava mo Tokelau venei
Tokelau venei (lea mai la Amosa)
Hea la koe iei

e Peni sauni na pehe nei
Neta lau mai na tala fou
fakalogo ki tala e fai mai
fai mai Ioane se tala nei
taku lava mo Tokelau venei
Tokelau venei (lea mai la Ioane)
Hea la koe iei

Matini hauni na pehe nei
ufiata lau mai na tala fou
fakalogo ki tala e fai mai
fai mai Foa’i se tala nei
taku lava mo Tokelau venei
Tokelau venei (lea mai la Foa’i)
Hea la koe iei

6/ Pate Mo tou agaga(log drums for your soul)

This instrumental piece is played in log drums with a gentle and breezy groove. It’s soulful feel and trancelike rhythm invites the listener to sway and move.

Track 7/ Vaka atua (missionaries)

The arrival of the missionaries marked a time of upheaval that destroyed much of the culture of the Pacific Islands. This song was inspired by what occurred in Tokelau where people were threatened with visits by gunboats if they didn’t accept the new faith.

Old songs and old dances were labeled as "evil" by the church who therefore proceeded to suppress them. These actions were motivated greatly by each missionary’s personal prejudices and dislikes of the customs and manners of each Island. Much of the old songs and old dances were lost at that point in time.

‘Vaka atua’ describes the many conflicts that occurred trying to accept these new beliefs while throwing aside the spiritual beliefs that had been held by them and their ancestors for thousands of years. One man, Foliga’s, reply to the first missionary in his land was "No, we already have our own true god in heaven" (represented in this song by "Tagaloa" Polynesian god of the sea).

"All their lesser evil customs you will endeavour to cast down,
going in a state of nudity or nearly so, cutting or scratching
themselves in seasons of grief - tattooing their bodies. Eating
raw fish, their lewd dances etc, but the greater evils will require
your first attacks and then the smaller."
(John Williams, LMS South Sea Letters, 1823, quoted in Gunson 1978: 319)

keina tu mai tao kae fakatonu ko to ta ho
keina tu mai tao kae fakatonu ko to ku Aliki
ko toku aliki Tui Tokelau
hau he matagi ke moli au
Tui o nuku Tui o vavau
hau he matagi keina tu
iao ioa lava

ua fa’asa uma le faiga o pese f’a’apena
ua fa’asa una le faiga o siva fa’apena
ua fa’asa fi le faiga o le tatau
ua fa’asa foi le aiga ole i’a mata
amata atu i le aso nei faiga o pese fa’apenei
te tali nei a foliga
te matou Atua i te lagi
te matou Aliki i te lagi
hau he matagi keina te matou Aliki i te lagi
iao ioa lava

e ui lava kua puli koutou
uma toku igoa
e he mafai na puli kou tou
e tagaloa

Track 8/ Tagaloa (A god of old Polynesia)

An idea of what the great Polynesian god Tagaloa (god of the sea) was then and is today. From his many feats to meet the constant demands for help and assistance from his people before the arrival of the missionaries, up to when he fell from grace - replaced by another god - to today, where he watches and waits.........

Tagaloa, Tagaloa ko he talohaga
e fai faipea
mo tou latou puipuiga malu
mo tou fakatagaga
moa latou taumafaiga
taumafaiga uam

Tagaloa fakalogo
tu mau pea

Track 9/ Kaleve (Coconut honey)

The sweet sap of the coconut is used by the women in their cooking, the children love to drink it while the men use it to make alcohol. Its varying uses and being the only natural sweetener make it an important part of life in the Pacific.

Track 10/ Sagalogalo ake (lost in it all)

A leisurely stroll through a Pacific Island basking in the magic of it all, accompanied by the enduring sound of the sea, there are children playing in the lagoon, groups taking part in festivities - dancing and singing - while others go about their daily chores. It’s as if you are lost in it all ... reminiscing.
Tokelau Island beach and palmtrees

te faiva kua tau kua tau lagalaga
kikila fakaholoholo pe fano ki fea

te faiva kua laga kua
laga te hi malau
saloa galugalu fatifati
te ataata o te mahina
te ataata o te mahina

fano ki te namo
pe ko tuakau
mahani a toeaina
nofonofo mai i te mulivaka
faitalatala ma tupulaga

sagalogalo ake
sagalogalo ake

11/ Aue kapaku (you’re going to fall)

A log drum interpretation of a traditional chant from the Island of Tokelua usually played with the "puha" (wooden box) and sung by a large group of people while they dance the ‘fatele’

aue kapaku aue kapaku
e gau te vae e gau te vae e
aue kapaku aue kapaku
e gau te lima e gau te lima
aue kapaku aue kapaku
gau te ua egau te ua
aue kapaku aue
sa hi , sa hi
si si si
aue sa hi , sa hi
si si si
si si si

12/ Kau tufuga fai vaka(Master voyages

A tribute to the original pioneers of the South Pacific - The great Polynesian fleet that conquered the largest ocean on the planet with the simple canoe. Their natural abilities on the sea as navigators and as sailors are legendary. Summoned by Tagaloa to the sea they take up the challenge.

kau tufuga fai vaka o te moana
tapena ake te folau
Tagaloa e kalaga mai
taku mai na uiga ote tai

hau hau
Kau tufuga fai vaka

kau tufuga fai vaka o te moana
te nuku e fakatali mai
fakatahi ma na faigata
fofou mai kia te koe e fanatu

hau hau
kau tufuga fai vaka

o koe kua lau iloa
in a tuhituhiga
o koe kua takutaku
i te lalolagi

**************
Album acknowledgements

This Album is dedicated to the original pioneers - the Polynesian fleet ‘Kau tufuga fai vaka’ forebear and ancestor to all the Polynesian cultures in the Pacific. May the memories of all their adventures and all their glorious achievements be remembered always - today and by generations to come.

I would like to thank my team - Luavasa, Neil, Sulata, Andrew, Simon, Edwin, Daniel, Alana, Manase and Vai for their talent and the time they put into this project, especially Neil for going the extra mile. To Mira and Louisa - thanks for the support and staying strong for the cause. To Malcolm Smith - Malo! and thank you for sharing your talent with us. To my best friend and wife Julie for giving me the freedom and wherewithal to write and record this Album. Thank you for believing in me.

I would also like to thank my Mother, Saute and my Father, Faraile Tavita for their ongoing support in my musical ventures, (even though it didn’t always put food on the table), Apelu Chan Sau for buying me my first guitar, the Auckland Tokelauan Choir for their part in ‘Vaka atua’, Allan Thomas and Judith Huntsman for their kind permission to use ‘Keina tu’ which they recorded in Nukunonu, Tokelau in 1986, Pou (Mike) Patelesio for introducing me to ‘Matagi Tokelau’ and the song ‘Keina tu’, Aunty Ane for gifting the canoe - it has been an inspiration in the studio, Ioane Iosua and Tavita Foa’i for overseeing the lyrics, Lua Puka for repairing our overworked computers, Brian Clay for building the studio fittings and innovative log drum stands, Caron Clay for the use of the Yamaha Keyboard, George & Aleshia Browne, Jacob Samson for helping us find log drums, Sam & So’o Pita, John & Gaylene Dukeson, Foa’i & Feagai Foa’i - voted best Te Vaka supporters, and David Abbott for helping us win the case.

A special thanks to our favourite comedian Andrew Clay for believing in the album and making miracles happen "Yo! Bro!" , Susie and Howard Bretherton for making our many adventures possible and George Schoushkoff of Revolver studios for being a saint..

Book references for this work have been:
‘Matagi Tokelau’ by the people of Tokelau translated by J. Huntsman and A Hooper
‘Tokelau’ a historical ethnography by J. Huntsman and A Hooper
‘New song and dance from Central Pacific’ by Allan Thomas

Opetaia Foa'i - lead vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion, keyboards, bvs, Pate Ulu ( lead log drum)

Neil Forrest - percussion, electric guitar, pate liki, pate toa (rhythm and double log drums)

Luavasa Foa'i - bass guitar, p’au malu (goatskin bass drum), bvs

Sulata Foa'i - Lead vocals (Pate Pate), bvs

Andrew Dukeson - drum kit, log drums

Manase Foa'i - pate liki, pate toa ( rhythm and double log drums)

Daniel Foa'i - pa’u villi (conga)

Alana Foa'i - backing vocals

Malcolm Smith- backing vocals (Tagaloa), keyboards and sounds

Children's voices- Kesa,Lufo,Bessie,Iva,Metita,Sina,Sera, Olivia,Matatia (Ke ke kitea)

Women's voices - Pua, Ulaalei, Puava, Alana, Wendy and Vai Mahina (Lua afe, Kaleve)
Men's voices - (Chants) Luavasa, Neil, Daniel, Simon, Edwin, Manase and Hori Chapman

Old man - Sione Matatia (Vaka atua)

Men's voices - begining of Vaka atua - Kotelano Kele led the singing under the direction of elders Fafie Pahelio and Tuia Ahelemo

PRODUCED BY Malcolm Smith and Opetaia Foa’i

MIXING BY Neil Baldock except for track 3 mixed by Malcolm Smith

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER - Julie Foa’i

SLEEVE CONCEPT AND DESIGN BY Shahreel Baiza

BOOKLET TEXTS BY - Julie Foa’i

RECORDED BY MALCOLM SMITH AT STARTREK STUDIOS

MIXED AT REVOLVER STUDIOS

MASTERED BY STEVE KENNEDY AT YORK ST STUDIOS

THE COPYRIGHT OF THIS RECORDING IS OWNED BY SPIRIT OF PLAY PRODUCTIONS LTD ©1999 SPIRIT OF PLAY

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