Cockeyed Mayor of Kaunakakai - Words & music by R. Alex Anderson

 
He wore a malo and a coconut hat
One was for this and the other for that
All the people shouted as he went by
He was the cockeyed mayor of Kaunakakai

He was just a lazy malihini haole boy
But all the girls were crazy
To share his fish and poi, Oh

He wore a lei and he wore a smile
He drank a gallon of oke to make life worthwhile
Then he made 'em laugh 'til he made 'em cry
He was the cockeyed mayor of Kaunakakai

The horse he rode was skinny
A broken down old female
So he placed a big pânini
Right under that horse's tail, Oh

He made her buck and he made her fly
All over the island of Moloka`i
You could hear the kanes and wahines cheer
As they gave him a lei of kîkânia

Now you've heard my story
About the mayor of Kaunakakai
All his fame and glory
On the island of Moloka`i

 

 

 

Source: Copyright 1935 Edward B. Marks Music Corp - Paul Fagan, owner of Pu`uhoku Ranch, Moloka`i requested a song for his special guest, movie star, Warner Baxter, in 1934. The mythical mayor became cockeyed because the last two syllables rhymed with Kaunakakai. Although Baxter liked the tune and lyrics, his studio did not, fearing it would create a bad image of drunkeness for Hollywood.