- Ia `oe e ka la e `alohi nei
- Ma na welelau a`o ka honua
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-
- Ho`ike a`e `oe i kou nani
- I ka malamalama `oi kelakela
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-
- Nau i noi`i nowelo aku
- Pau na pali pa`a i ka `ike `ia
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- `Ike `oe i ka nani a`o Himela
- Ka hene wai `olu lawe malie
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-
- Mauna i lohia me ke onaona
- Kaulana i ka nani me ke ki`eki`e
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- Ki`eki`e `o ka lani noho mai i luna
- Nau i a`e nâ kapu o Kahiki
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- Hehihehi ku ana i ka huku `ale
- I ke kai hala`i lana mâlie
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- Ki`ina `ia aku na pae moku
- I hoa kuilima nou e Kalani
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- Ma ia mau alanui malihini
- Au i `olali ho`okahi ai
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- O ka lama o ke ao kou kokua
- Hokuloa no kou alaka`i
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- Lilo i mea `ole na enemi
- Lehelehe `eu`eu hana loko `ino
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- He ola `o Kalani a mau aku
- A kau i ke ao malamalama
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- Hea no wao `o mai `oe
- O ka lani Kawika kou inoa
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- Ha`ina `ia mai ana ka puana
- No Kalakaua no he inoa
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- To you, O sun shining
down
- Throughout the ends of the
world
-
-
- Show forth your beauty
- The greatest of all
lights
-
-
- It is you who seek and
delve
- Till the solid cliffs yield
their secrets
-
-
- You'll see the beauty of the
Himalayas
- The slope of refreshing water
that comes gently
-
-
- A mountain rich with
fragrance
- Famed for its beauty and
height
-
-
- High above sits my royal
chief
- You who tread the sacred places
of Kahiki
-
-
- Treading on the rising billows
of waves
- And over the calm, tranquil
sea
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- Reaching out to other
islands
- For companions to go hand in
hand with you
-
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- Over those unfamiliar
trails
- You walk alone
-
-
- The light of the day shall be
your help
- The morning star your
guide
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- Your enemies become
nothing
- The evil ones with jabbering
mouths
-
-
- Long may you live, O heavenly
one
- Till you reach the world of
light
-
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- I call, you answer
- Heavenly one, David is your
name
-
This is the end of my
chant
In honor of Kalakaua
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Source: Na Mele Welo Translated by Mary
Puku'i - There are several versions of this chant. Chiefess
Nahinu, a cousin of Queen Kapi`olani, composed this song in
1881, for King Kâlakaua before he left on his world
tour. This was a prayer wishing him successs and happiness
on his long journey. The aged kaula or seer, from the old
school, was from Kaua`i and her meles were prophetic. Verse
2 refers to the regions of the Himalayas, the home of the
Brahmins. The King was initiated into the Brahmin
brotherhood at their hidden and most sacred temple. Himela
is also interpreted as the sexual organs of a woman. There
is also an expression of a secret love affair between the
King and a Danish beauty. Pali pa'a in verse 3 and mauna in
verse 5 is the kaona for the body of a woman. The stamping
on taboos in verse 6 refers to the belief that royalty was
exempt from the taboos of ordinary people. Kahiki is
Hawaiian for Tahiti or any foreign country. Huku `ale in
verse 7 is symbolic of the action of the female sexual
organs.
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