Hawaiian Cowboy - Words & Music by Sol K. Bright
Ulu lei, `o lei lehua Lei lehua, `o lei lehua Lei lehua, `o lei lehua `O nâ lei, lei u`i ê He wahi lio Lehua kou inoa lâ Hanohano wale `oe Hawai`i lâ E like kou holo `ana me ka `ô`io lâ Ke kolo, ke kuli, ke ku`i kolo iho `oe `Auhea wale `oe te wahine holo lio Pua nani a`o Hawai`i lâ Aloha i ka Hawaiian cowboy Ulu lei, o `roselani Roselani, `o roselani Roselani, `o roselani `O nâ lei, lei u`i ê He wahi lio Roselani kou inoa lâ Kilakila wale `oe o Maui lâ E like kou holo `ana me ka `ô`io lâ Ke kolo, ke kuli, ke ku`i kolo iho `oe `Auhea wale `oe te wahine holo lio Pua nani a`o Maui lâ Aloha i ka Hawaiian cowboy Ulu lei, `o lei `ilima Lei` ilima, `o lei `ilima Lei `ilima, `o lei `ilima `O nâ lei, lei u`i e Ha`alele mai au i Honolulu lâ Ho`i mai au i ka `âina malihini Ke kau `ana aku i ka lio Kaleponi Ua fâfâ mai lâ `o Lehua He wahi lio kalakoa ko Ka `âina malihini lâ I San Francisco by the Golden Gate Aloha i ka Hawaiian cowboy Ha`ina mai o ka puana Lei lehua, `o roselani Ha`ina mai o ka puana `O na lei, lei u`i e I'm heading for the last roundup `Auhea wale `oe te wahine holo lio E like kou holo `ana me ka `ô`io lâ Ke kolo, ke kuli, ke ku`i kolo iho `oe `Auhea wale `oe te wahine holo lio Pua nani `oe Hawai`i lâ Aloha i ka Hawaiian cowboy	Trot (my) wreath, o wreath of lehua Lehua wreath, o wreath of lehua Lehua wreath, o wreath of lehua The wreaths, the beautiful lei You are a fine horse, Lehua is your name Magnificent one of Hawai`i Your ride is smooth like the bonefish You crouch, work the knees, and you post Listen you, oh horsewoman Beautiful blossom of Hawai`i The love of the Hawaiian cowboy Trot (my) garland, o garland of roses Heavenly rose, o heavenly rose Heavenly rose , o heavenly rose The garlands, the beautiful lei You are a fine horse, Roselani is your name Majestic one of Maui Your ride is smooth like the bonefish You crouch, work the knees, and you post Listen you, oh horsewoman Beautiful blossom of Maui The love of the Hawaiian cowboy Trot (my) wreath, o wreath of `ilima `Ilima wreath, o wreath of `ilima `Ilima wreath, o wreath of `ilima The wreaths, the beautiful wreaths I depart from Honolulu Coming back to foreign lands Mounting a California steed Lehua said "don't do that" A horse of many colors has The foreign land In San Francisco by the Golden Gate (Bridge) Who loves the Hawaiian cowboy Tell the refrain of Garland of lehua, roses Tell the refrain Of the wreaths, the beautiful wreaths I'm heading for the last roundup Listen you, oh horsewoman Your ride is smooth like the bonefish You crouch, work the knees, and you post Listen you, oh horsewoman You are the beautiful blossom of Hawai`i The love of the Hawaiian cowboy
Roselani dandee Is the pride of Maui Island She can surely cut a caper On the lava by the sea When I lower my spurs To her tender little sides She'll wiggle and whinny And wiggle all the way Off to the hills And to the slopes of Polipoli We'll ramble through the bushes Where the heifers love to play Roselani loves her Hawaiian Cowboy	Solomon K. Bright
Source: Copyright 1936 - Solomon (Kolomone) Kamaluhia Kekipi Ke Aliikaapuni Ku Keala Oka Mahanahana Bright's father was Andrew Iaukea Bright, half Hawaiian and half Castilian. His mother, Alice Keahi Kekipi was pure Hawaiian. Sol K. Bright, Sr. on tour with a 5-piece band and 2 hula dancers in 1933, composed this song at the Tahitian Hut in San Francisco. Playing to a packed house, he was asked during intermission about cowboys in Hawaii. He told them about the 1908 rodeo in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where his cousin, Ikua Purdy of the Big Island, accompanied by 3 other cowboys from Hawaii, won the grand prize. This event is recorded in the song "Waiomina". After intermission, on his way to the stage, he noticed the guitar player with a woman who put a $20.00 bill on the table everytime the musician would yodel. He told the guitarist, "You take 16 bars and let me have 16 bars". Bright started yodelling his 16 bars and composed this song on the spot. Translation Puakea Nogelmeier, Hui by Kaiu Kanoa