I Ali'i No 'Oe (You Are A Chief) - Traditional

 

I ali`i nô 'oe i kanaka au lâ
Malalo aku au a'o ko leo lâ
 
 
I noho aku au a`i kuke nâu lâ
I kuene ho`i na kô nui kino lâ
 
 
He keu `oe a ke aloha `ole lâ
I nêia mau maka `imo aku nei lâ
 
 
Ko `ike mai no a he palupalu lâ
A he `iwi ha`i wale ko ka `amakihi lâ
 
 
`O ka pou kaena iho kêia lâ
E `ui`ui nei ke kaula `ili lâ
 
 
Ha`ina `ia mai ana ka puana lâ
I ali`i nô `oe i kanaka au lâ
You are a chief, I am a commoner
Below you, I am obedient to your command
 
 
While you sit, I cook for you and
Wait on your big body
 
 
You are insincere, I've lost my love for you
Those eyes wink at someone else
 
 
I know your tenderness for another bird
This bird will break the bonds that bind
 
 
This is the mast that boasts of itself
The rope that squeaks
 
 
The story is told
You are a chief, I am a commoner

 

Source: Kamehameha Schools HSI