Writing Hawaiian Songs

Song Structure Template:
Verse 1: Set the scene (specific place/time)
Chorus: Central Hawaiian theme/feeling
Verse 2: Personal story/cultural detail
Chorus: Repeat
Bridge: Deeper cultural connection
Final Chorus: Resolution/celebration

Example opening:
"Down in Hanauma Bay where the trade winds blow
Old Uncle Keoni taught me what I know..."

Progress:

• Choose specific Hawaiian location or cultural element
• Identify personal/community story connected to that place
• Select appropriate musical style (slack key, contemporary, etc.)
• Write lyrics incorporating Hawaiian words naturally
• Develop guitar arrangement (fingerpicking patterns for storytelling)
• Practice vocal delivery with proper Hawaiian pronunciation
• Test with local audience for cultural authenticity

Example 1: Input: Song about Waikiki Beach Output:

Verse: "Sunrise over Diamond Head, surfers paddle out
Tourists taking pictures, locals know what it's about
But I remember when my tutu danced hula here
Before the hotels rose up year after year"

Chorus: "Waikiki, you're still my home
Even when the crowds have grown
In your waters, in your sand
Lives the spirit of this land"

Example 2: Input: Song about family gathering Output:

"Aunty's making lau lau, Uncle's tuning his guitar
Keiki running barefoot underneath the kukui stars
This is how we keep alive what makua taught us well
In every song we sing tonight, their stories we will tell"

• Use specific place names (Makapuu, Lanikai, Manoa Valley) rather than generic "Hawaii"
• Incorporate Hawaiian words naturally - don't force pidgin if it's not authentic to your voice
• Reference actual cultural practices (luau, hula, fishing traditions, family dynamics)
• Include sensory details unique to Hawaii (trade winds, plumeria scent, red dirt)
• Research proper pronunciation and meanings of Hawaiian terms
• Connect contemporary life with traditional values
• Use guitar techniques that complement storytelling (fingerpicking, open tunings)

• Don't use Hawaiian culture as exotic backdrop - write from genuine connection
• Avoid stereotypical tourist imagery (grass skirts, coconut bras)
• Don't appropriate sacred Hawaiian concepts without understanding
• Skip forced rhymes that sacrifice authentic storytelling
• Don't neglect the musical arrangement - let guitar support the narrative
• Avoid generic island imagery that could be anywhere in the Pacific
• Don't rush the creative process - let stories develop naturally from real experiences