Alice N?makelua was a gifted Hawaiian composer, kumu hula, Hawaiian language teacher, lei-maker, and slack key guitarist. She composed well over 100 songs and was a mentor to many young students of Hawaiian slack key and Hawaiian language from the 1940s through the cultural Rennaisance in Hawai’i in the 1970s.
This song was used by Auntie Alice as accompaniment for many songs included Noho Paipai and Ka Manu. She released a few recordings that are essential listening. This song progression was used often in early slack key songs and continues to be played today with hundreds of variations including the songs Punahele by Ray Kane and the Whee Ha Swing by Sonny Chillingworth.
The song introduces the G Wahine tuning: DGDF#BD
The thirds string is lowered a half step from G to F# from the Taro Patch Tuning
Sheet Music: