Ali`ipoe (Canna) - by William Maka`ehu

`Upu a`e ka mana`o nôu e ke aloha
Ku`u ipo ho`oheno o ke aumoe
Ua pili ua pa`a he hali`a ka mana`o
I ka hana mau `ole anei pu`uwai

A he waiwai nou e ke aloha
He u`i he nohea i ku`u maka
E kîlohi iho au ka waiho ka hela
`O Hâ`upu i ka maka o ka `ôpua

A he pua i wili `ia me ke `ala mokihana
Hoapili o ka maile lau li`i
`A`ole no he lua e like aku me `oe
Onaona i ka ihu ke honi

Ha`ina `ia mai ana ka puana
Ku`u ipo ho`oheno o ke aumoe
A`o `oe a`o wau i ka pô la`ila`i
I ka malu o ka lau ali`ipoe

My thoughts recur, for you my love
My sweetheart, so cherished at midnight
We cling to each other, in thought and mind
By the endless act of our hearts

You are a treasure, my love
So beautiful and lovely for the eyes to behold
I glance as you lie spread out in view
Like Ha`upu to the eyes of fluffy clouds

You`re a flower entwined with fragrant mokihana
Companion of the small-leafed maile
There is none to compare with you
So fragrant for the nose to breathe

I end and close my story
Of my sweetheart so cherished at midnight
Only you and I in such a calm night
Sheltered in the shade of canna leaves

Source: An old love song from Kauai - The seeds of the ali`ipoe are used in the la`amia calabash for the rattle of the `ulî`ulî. Translated by Alice Nâmakelua