Hula - Words by Mary Pûku`i, Music by Noelani Mahoe

 
Makemake no anei `oe
E a`o i nei mea a he hula
Me ka no`eau a mikimiki `oi
Ka hula ana a ka Hawai`i

Penei a e kuhi ai
Hana no a `olu na lima
Ke ki`ina maika`i a ka wawae
E kohukohu pono iho ai

E ho`onaaue mâlie a`e
I ko kikala a lewa
Huli `akau a ho`i ka hema
He good fun mai ho`i kau

Kamau mai e ka `uwehe
I ka hela ma ke kaholo
Ka`apuni a`e kaua a puni
O ka round-the-island mai keia

Ha`ina mai ana ka puana
No ka hula kaulana o Hawai`i
Huli `akau a ho`i i ka hema
He good fun mai keia

 

Mary Pûku`i
 
 
 
Noelani Mahoe
Do you wish to learn
This thing called the hula?
With neatness and nicety
Is the hula of Hawai'i done

This is the way to gesture
Make your hands move gracefully
Then step along nicely
To make them coordinate

Move quietly
Your hips in a gentle sway
Swing right then swing left
This is really good fun

Then add the `uwehe step
The hela next and the kaholo
Let us go all around
This step is the "round-the-island"

This ends my song
Of Hawai'i's famous dance
Swing right, then swing left
This is really good fun

 

Source: Noelani Mahoe CD "Eia Au 'O Noelani" , Copyright 1995, Tradewind Records, PO Box 37624, Honolulu HI 96837. This poem was written in April, 1951, and given to Noelani by Pat Namaka Bacon, Mary Kawena Puku'i's hanai daughter. Noelani set it to music for the Year of the Hawaiian, 1987