Lyr Req: Melancholy Malahini / ...Malihini

Subject: Melancholy Malahini - Lyrics
From: GUEST,Lakeman
Date: 28 Jan 07 - 11:40 PM

I saw a TV show recently about the story of the hula, where a man sang a song called "Melancholy Malahini" from a 1955 film of the same name. Unfortunately they faded the song out half way through. Has anyone ever heard of this song and have the complete lyrics?

Subject: RE: Melancholy Malahini - Lyrics
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 10:58 PM

This is a tough one.

The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) lists no such movie, and its soundtrack search lists no such song. Allmusic.com lists no such song.

The spelling could be "malihini." (At least, Google gives 49,900 hits on "malihini" but only 16,300 on "malahini.") Google gives no hits on "melancholy malahini" or "... malihini" (as quoted phrases).

The Hawaiian Hula Archives—which looks pretty authentic—has 64 occurrences of "malihini" but none of "malahini."

It lists hundreds of songs, including about 200 "hapa-haole" songs, but none of them have the word "melancholy" in the title. I could find only one song that has "malihini" in the title: MALIHINI MELE.

Allmusic.com lists:
MALIHINI
MALIHINI HULA
MALIHINI MELE
MALIHINI O WAIMEA
PUA MALIHINI
...and has several sound samples. You might try listening to see if any of them sounds like the song you want.

Another approach might be to try to identify the program you were watching.

Subject: RE: Melancholy Malahini - Lyrics
From: katlaughing
Date: 31 Jan 07 - 12:20 AM

Found this reference to a documentary called "Malahini Magic," on Hawaiian Vacations," from 5/11/57.

Subject: RE: Melancholy Malahini - Lyrics
From: GUEST,Lakeman
Date: 31 Jan 07 - 07:24 PM

Thanks, folks, but the name of the film was definitely the above. Annoying thing too, is that I have a-a and half the b in the lyrics. I just need the rest of the lyrics - it was a standard 32 bar a-a-b-a song.
If it's any help the guy was singing to a a hula-girl doll on his desk which merged into the real thing on a beach. Very nice song. The credits did not list it.

Subject: RE: Melancholy Malahini - Lyrics
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 31 Jan 07 - 08:55 PM

Please post what you have.

Subject: RE: Melancholy Malahini - Lyrics
From: GUEST,lakeman
Date: 06 Feb 07 - 08:00 PM

Jim Dixon: Hi. Here are the lyrics that I know

"What has happened to the island flower
Are they blooming still in sun-kissed flowers
Guess I'm just a MELANCHOLY MALAHINI
Missing that Polynesian shore
Is that big Hawaian moon still beaming
And is ev'ry night a night for dreaming
Guess I'm just a Melancholy Malahini
Longing for one that I adore
Bridge:
Remember that night on the Prati(?)
Where the men...."

And here's where the song cut out, even though I know how it is going to finish musically. It's the words i don't have,,.
Hope you can help!

Subject: RE: Melancholy Malahini - Lyrics
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 06 Feb 07 - 10:51 PM

Not in Kanahele, "Hawaiian Music and Musicians," Univ. Hawai'i
Not in "King's Book of Hawaiian Melodies,: King, Honolulu
Not on any of my lps or cds.

Subject: RE: Melancholy Malahini - Lyrics
From: GUEST,lakeman
Date: 07 Feb 07 - 07:30 PM

Well, Q, I know what I know. I listen to the song - or the part they put on the TV doc - daily. It's from a 1955 film called "Melancholy Malahini" and as that title features as the hook in the song I assume it to be of the same name.
I never thought it would be that hard a request. Obviously it is.