Na Mele are the songs of Hawai`i. These
songs are written in a variety of styles that have developed
over the years ranging from traditional songs to contemporary
ballads. In ancient Hawaiian times, there were two main categories
of mele: kahiko and `auana. Mele Kahiko were songs and chants
that were used to honor Gods and ancestors. Mele `auana were
generally used to pass on stories and legends between generations.
Ka `Opihi O Kanapou |
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by Keali'i Reichel |
I Kanapou ka i`a makaiauli
Me he pai pu`u ala i ho`opuu `ia
Mai ka lae `o Halona
A ka ihu o ka lae `o Kaule la
`Ea la `ea la `ea
`O ka `opihi halala la ea
Hamohamo i ka pali halala la ea
Kolo i ka pohaku halala la ea
Po`ipu `umi `umi halala la ea
`Ea la `ea la `ea
`O ka i`a ia i pokepoke `ia
E ka lehia o ke kulu aumoe
Hinuhinu wale i ka lihi o ke kai
I ke kai oluhia o Kalapakea la
`Ea la `ea la `ea
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At Kanapou is the dark-fleshed limpet
Clustered like little hills
From Halona Point
All the way to the tip of Kaule Point
Tra la la
The giant limpet, oh
Rubs against the large cliff, oh
Crawls on the large rocks, oh
Covering up, enticing, large, oh
Tra la la
It is the limpet that is scooped out
By the skilled fisherman of the midnight hours
Shining there at the sea's edge
The surging sea of Kalapakea
Tra la la
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Kaulana Kaua`i |
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by the Kahauaanu Lake Trio
Also known as Kaulana Kou Inoa O Kaua`i, this song praises the beauty of this island. It was written by Margaret Kilauano `Aipoalani and her sister Edna Kilauano Ka`iwa, from Kekaha, in the early 1940s. Margaret still lives there. |
Kaulana ka inoa `o Kaua`i
Ku`u lei mokihana poina `ole
Ku kilakila `oe Wai`ale`ale
Kaulana `o Nawiliwili
Laua`e o Makana ka`u aloha
Me ka uapo nani a`o Niumalu
Pi`ina ikiiki a`o Kipu
Me ka wai `anapanapa
I aloha `ia no `o Waimea
Me ke one kani mai a`o Nohili
Pu`ili ko aloha me ku`u poli
hone ko leo me he ipo
Hea aku no wau e o mai `oe
Lei ana Kaua`i i ka mokihana
Ha`ina kou inoa o ku`u `aina
He u`i e kaulana nei
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Famous is the name of Kaua`i
My unforgettable mokihana lei
With her majestic mountain Wai`ale`ale
Of famous Nawiliwili
I love the fern of Makana
And the wharf of Niumalu
Journeying to Kipu`u
With its waterfall
My love for Waimea
With the barking sands of Nohili
Near my bosom I hold dear
The sweet soundof ipo ala
I call out to you, oh, answer me
Kaua`i, with your leis of mokihana
This is to honor the name of my land
So beautiful and famous
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Wahine `Ilikea |
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by Ka'au Crater Boys
The white clouds of Moloka`i are described as a woman in this mele. |
Pua kalaunu ma ke kai
`O Honouliwai
Wahine `ilikea i ka poli `o Moloka`i
No ka heke
Nani wale no na wailele `uka
`O Hina `o haha `o Mo`oloa
Na wai `ekolu i ka uluwehiwehi
`O Kamalo i ka malie
Nani wale no ka `aina Halawa
Home ho`okipa a ka malihini
`Aina uluwehi i ka noe ahiahi
Ua lawe mai ka makani Ho`olua
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Crown flower by the shore
Of Honouliwai
Fair skinned woman in the bosom of Molokai
Is the best
Beautiful waterfalls of the upland
Hina, Haha, and Mo`oloa
Three waters in the verdant overgrowth
Of Kamalo, in the calm
Beautiful is the land, Halawa
Hospitable home to the visitors
Land verdant, in the evening mist
Brought by the wind of Ho`olua
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Hawai`i No E Ka `Oi |
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by Na Palapalai
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`O Mauna Kea, ku kilakila
Me ka wai hu`i a`o Wai`au
Wai hu`i anu (hu`i konikoni)
Hu`i konikoni (koni i ka `ili)
I ka piko o Mauna Kea
Hawai`i no e ka `oi
E `alawa iho ia Mauna Loa
I ke kahela mai i ka la`i
Kohu moa kea (i ka malie)
Ka waiho mai (la i ka la'i)
I ka poli o Wahinekapu
Hawai`i no e ka `oi
E kilohi a`e `oe i ka nani
O ke kuahiwi `o Hualalai
Ala`i ana (ka makani `Eka)
Ho`ohaehae (i ka naulu)
Me ka uhiwai o ka uka
Hawai`i no e ka `oi
Ha`ina mai ana ka puana
Na kuahiwi nani `ekolu
`O Mauna Kea (ku kilakila)
`O Mauna Loa (kau i ka hano)
`O Hulalai i ka la`i
Hawai`i no e ka `oi
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Mauna Kea stands majestic
With the numbing waters of Waiau
Numbing cold water
Making the skin tingle
On the dome of Mauna Kea
Hawai`i is the best
See Mauna Loa for yourself
Spreading peacefully
Like a white hen in the calm
Lying there in the quiet
With the sacred woman (Pele) in its bosom
Hawai`i is the best
Glance at the beauty
Of the mountain Hualala`i
Stirred by the dusty wind
Teased by the sudden showers
And covering mists of the inlands
Hawai`i is the best
The story is told
Of the three beautiful mountains
Mauna Kea standing majestically
Mauna Loa in a position of honor
Hualala`i in the calm
Hawai`i is the best
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Haleakala Hula |
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Kuahiwi nani `oe Haleakala
Kaulana ho`i `oe ku kilakila
`O Makawao ia ua kaulana
I kaohi ia iho o ka la`au
He `ukiu e ka ua o ka `aina
Me ka makani aheahe `olu `olu
Puana ka inoa i lohe `ia
Kuahiwi nani `oe Haleakala<
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You are a beautiful mountain, Haleakala
You are famous and stand majestically
At Makawao, this rain is well known
It falls gently on the trees
`Ukiu is the name of the rain of this land
Here the wind is soft and cool
Tell the name so that it can be heard
You are a beautiful mountain, Haleakala
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Waikiki Medley |
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by The Brothers Cazimero
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Iwaho makou i Ka`alawai la
`Ike i ka nani Kaimana Hila la
Kau mai i luna
He aloha `ia no a`o Waikiki, ea
Ka nehe o ke kai hawanawana
Pa iho ka makani lawa malie, ea
Ke `ala onaona o ka lipoa
Huli aku nana ia Kaimana Hila, ea
`Ike i ka nani a`o Honolulu
Kaulana kou inoa i na malihini, ea
Ka`apuni kou nani puni ka honua
Ha`ina `ia mai ana ka puana, ea
He aloha `ia no a`o Waikiki
Ha `ina `ia mai ana ka puana la
`Ike i ka nani Kaimana Hila la
Kau mai i luna
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We all went there on Ka`alawai shores
And gazed up at the grandeur of old Diamond Head
So majestic
Beloved is Waikiki
The rustling of the whispering sea
The wind blows carrying softly
The sweet fragrance of seaweed
Turn and look at Diamond Head
See the beauty of Honolulu
Your name is famous to visitors,
All your beauty known around the world
The story is told
Beloved is Waikiki
This is the end of the song
Gazed up at the grandeur of Old Diamond Head
So majestic
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