- E ku`u belle o ka pô la`i la`i
- Ka lawe mâlie a ka mahina
- Kô aniani mai nei e ke ahe
- `Âhea `oe ho`olono mai
- Ka lawe mâlie a ka mahina
-
Hui:
- `Âhea `oe, `âhea `oe
- `Oe ho`olono mai
- I nei leo nahenahe
- Adios, adios ke aloha
- E ka hau`oli `iniki pu`u wai
- E ke aloha e maliu mai `oe
- Ke ho`olale mai nei e ke Kiu
- Ua anu ka wao i ka ua
- Ho`okahi kiss
Dew drops he ma`û ia
E ka belle o ka noe lîhau
Eia au lâ e ke aloha
Ke huli ho`i nei me ka noe
Prince
William Pitt Leleiohoku
- My belle of the clear
night
- When the moon shines in its tranquility
- And a gentle breeze plays
- Oh, when will you listen to me
- When the moon shines in its tranquility
- Chorus:
- When, when
- Will you listen?
- To this gentle plea?
- Goodbye, goodbye beloved
O happiness that grips the
heart
O beloved hearken to me
The Kiu breeze brings a message
That the forest is made cold by the
rain
- One kiss
As cool as a dew drop, will do
O belle of the ice cold mist
Here I am, your lover
Returning empty handed
Source: King's "Songs of Hawai`i" Copyright 1942 Charles E. King - Written in the 1870's, Leleiohoku was influenced by the music of the Mexican cowboys or vaqueros. Captain Vancouver presented a gift of longhorn cattle to King Kamehameha I, at Kealakekua, in 1793. A 10-year kapu was placed on the cattle to allow them to multiply and assure the island of a constant food supply. The wild cattle became a menace and Kamehameha III, in 1832, invited 3 of Mexico's best cowboys, (Kossuth, Ramon and Lauzada) to Waimea to teach the paniola's the art of roping. Translated by Mary Pukui