Hula_Chant_for_Kalakaua

                                          

"Kalakauapainting" by William F. Cogswell - Hawaii State Archives. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kalakauapainting.jpg#/media/File:Kalakauapainting.jpg

Kâua I Ka Nani O Hilo - Chant for Kalâkaua
http://www.huapala.org/Chants/Kaua_Nani_Hilo.html 
Source: Roberts Collection: Mele Hula No Kalâkaua, Translated by Mary Pûku`i

Kâua i ka nani o Hilo
I ka ua loloku o Hanakahi
`Akahi no ko`u manene
I ka me`eu ho`i o ko`u oho
He `ûlâleo paha na ka i`iwi
Pu a mai la i Hâili
Ilihia i ka leo o ka mamo
Ke ikuwa mai la i Ola`a
Ua la`a `ia pua i`ane`i
Eia ma ko`u ki`aha
Ua ho`olawa `ia e Li`a
E na lehua i Pana`ewa
E kuhi ana no paha `oe
Ho`okahi halau i a`o ai
I like a i na mea hana
O ka puke ho`onui `ike
He makau hala`ole kêia
Ua lou `ia e ka i`a nui
Ua pa`a i ka lino pâwalu
I malia i ke aho makali`i
E ô e kalani ku kahi
O ka hiku kapu o na lani
Kahea:
He inoa no ke ali`i Kalâkaua

Translated:

You and I amidst Hilo’s charms

In the pouring rain of Hanakahi
It is the first time I’ve been thrilled

The hair on my head rises
Perhaps it is the chant of the i`iwi bird

In distant Hâili
I am astonished by the voice of the mamo

That clamor in Ola`a
The flower is reserved here

It is in my vessel
Gathered together by Li`a

Are the lehua of Pana`ewa
Perhaps you think that art is taught

In one school
So that the working can be seen

In a book that increases knowledge
This a hook that doesn’t fail

It catches big fish
Made fast to an eight-ply line

Bound on with fine meshed cord
Answer one and only ruler
The seventh of the kings
Call: 
In the name of King Kalâkaua


@May 2018                       Honolulu County Coordinator Doreen Harunaga-Ewing