kāwelu (grass endemic to Hawaiʻi)
1. n. A wind-blown grass (Eragrostis variabilis),
famous in songs of Nuʻu-anu pali;
E. niihauensis on Niʻihau
Also kalamālō and ʻemoloa
2. nvi. A hula step, to do this step, which is said to be named for the grass:
one foot taps time with the heel, the toes being stationary, while the other foot,
flat, steps forward and then a little back, twice or more;
the step is repeated reversing the feet.
In English this is called the Kalākaua step because the step is used
to begin the hula dedicated to Kalākaua: Kalākaua nō he inoa,
ka pua mae ʻole i kalā, a name chant for Kalākaua, the flower that
wilts not in the sun.
(from: http://wehewehe.org)
Kāwelu is/was:
Kawehi - Vocals and ʻUkulele
Michael - Guitar
![[Bishop Museum kāwelu photo]](images/kawelu_grass.jpg)
![[kāwelu grass photo]](images/800px-Starr_050224-4513_Eragrostis_variabilis.jpg)