He `Ono (Delicious) - Words & Music by Bina Mossman

 
Keu a ka `ono ma ke alopiko lâ
Kahi momona piko ka nenue lâ
Lihaliha wale ke momoni aku lâ
`O ka `ô`io halalê ke kai lâ
`O ka `ôpelu e pepenu ana lâ
He `ono toumi to ho`i tau i
Tou pu`u te momoni aku
 
 
Hui:
He `ono a he `ono a he `ono
`I`o no a he`ono nô
 
 
Mai pi`ikoi `oe i ke akule lâ
A he i`a `âha`i i ka hohonu lâ
Ho`i iho `oe i kahi `anae lâ
Me ka manini pûlehu `ia lâ
`O ke kole ê ka i`a maka onaona lâ
He `ono toumi to ho`i tau i
Tou pu`u te momoni aku
 
 
Oh, how delicious is the belly
The fattest part of the pilot fish
So rich when swallowed
The bone fish with thick gravy
The mackerel, dunked in sauce
Delicious tasting
A delight to the throat to swallow
 
 
Chorus:
Delicious, delicious, delicious
Indeed, how delicious
 
 
Don't choose only the scad fish
The fish of the depths
Pay some attention to the mullet
And the reef surgeonfish cooked on the coals
Andthe surgeonfish with the bright sweet eyes
Delicious tasting
A delight to the throat to swallow

 

Source: Baker Collection, Translated by Kamehameha Schools HSI, Copyright 1961-66 Criterion Music Corp - It is said this was written while the composer was in the bathtub