What does 'Maui Wowie' mean and why is it trending?
The internet has a new obsession, and it has people trying to dangle from street signs and traffic lights while singing or lip-syncing to the song Maui Wowie.
The trend is quickly taking over TikTok as social media users recreate the moment and post their own takes on the challenge.
This includes Darren Espanto, whose live performance of the song on the variety show ASAP made the rounds online before other Pinoys jumped on the trend.
'Maui Wowie': What it means
Maui Wowie is a song by American rapper Kid Cudi from his debut mixtape A Kid Named Cudi back in 2008. Produced by Cudi and Plain Pat, it contains a sample of I'm So High by Grind Mode and an interpolation of Let's Get Lifted by John Legend.
The lines "Goin' back to Honolulu just to get that / That Maui Wowie, that Maui Wowie" are the parts that are mostly used in the trend.
But what does the word mean?
"Maui Wowie" refers to a famous Hawaiian-grown cannabis strain known for its tropical flavor and mellow, euphoric effect. Heading back to Honolulu to "get that Maui Wowie" hints at chasing enjoyment or a sense of escape.
But the TikTok trend has nothing to do with that, as it simply has people trying to hold on with just one arm and trying to sing along. Some have even taken advantage of it to show off their fit bodies or their OOTDs.
According to the Know Your Meme database, the trend appeared to have been started by TikTok user @aaronxbrownn, filming himself hanging from a traffic sign. It has since been recreated by other popular content creators such as Haley Kalil and Filipino celebrities like Shuvee Etrata and Anthony Constantino.
Darren Espanto's version
While the trend started back in early September, it received renewed popularity after Espanto sang it live during an appearance on ASAP. During his performance, he wore a simple black tank top and pants and delivered a rather passionate version of the song.
@its_deleter angas naman @darrenespanto✨ #darrenespanto #mauiwowie ♬ original sound - its_bnhr deleter - What'sOnYourMind?
Some users felt amused at his version as they claimed that his vocal style doesn't really fit the tone of the song.
"The original sounds cool and relaxed, while his sounded the opposite— dramatic and has lots of emotions to it. He sounded so extra that's why," one user said.
Espanto then became a meme of his own as several TikTok users began to copy his style of singing and posted their own "99.99% accurate" renditions of the song.
These include his fellow celebrities like Anne Curtis, Kyle Echarri, Jason Dy, and more.
@annecurtissmith Maui wowwwiweeee @darrenespanto ♬ original sound - Anne Curtis
The singer and actor has since gotten wind of the memes about his performance. He made a post compiling all the impersonations of him on his Instagram page and even recreated his own performance to make it more "extra."
"It’s ya boi, Maui Wowiespanto! Salamat sa pag-tangkilik sa version ko, guys. It means a lot," he wrote in the caption.
