`Au`a `Ia E Kama I Kona Moku - by Keaulumoku

 

`Aua `ia e Kama e kona moku
E kona moku e Kama e `au`a `ia
 
 
Ke kama kama kama kama i ka hulu nû
Ke kama kama kama kama i ka huli au
 
 
Hulihia pâpio a i lalo i ke alo
Hulihia i ka imu
O Ku ka Maki`i lohelohe
`O ka hana `ana i hiki `ôhulehule
Ka`a `ia ka `alihi a`o pôhaku
 
 
Me ka `upena aku a`o ihu aniani
O ka unu o Niuolaniola`a
O Keawe `ai kû `ai a la`ahia
 
 
Nâna i halapepe ka honua o ka moku
I ha`ale `ia i ke kiu welo kâ i ka pu`u
Kôwelo lohi a`o Kanaloa
Kama refused to part with his island
This is the land held back by Kama
 
 
The son Kama, the highest born
The son Kama, who reigns
 
 
He turns his foes face down (kills them)
He turns them into the imus
Then and lays them before his idols
He rids the land (of foes) till none exist
He rolls them aside as he does stones
 
 
He draws them in as he does his nets
To his temple Niu-olani-o-La'a
(built) By Keawe, the most sacred one
 
 
He who ruled and made the island subject to him
His power arose to the summit of the hills
He (Kama) is the powerful descendant of Kanaloa

 

Source:Keakaokalâ Kanahele - This mele inoa for Aikanaka, maternal grandfather of Queen Liliuokalani, was composed by Keaulumoku, a priest, and published in the Hawaiian Newspaper "Na Mele Aimoku", 1886. Kama, short for Kamalalawalu was a chief of Maui. Imu are earthern ovens and maki`i lohilohi is the word for both the sacred cord and/or ritual. The chant refers to the rites of human sacrifice at heiau luakini. Translated by Mary Pûku`i.