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`Auhea wale `oe e ke aloha lâ E ka mea ho`eha`eha pu`uwai Na wai e `ole ke aloha ia lâ A he waiwai ua sila mua ia A`ohe kohukohu o ka ua lâ Ke pili mai me a`u ka wahine u`i `Aia ko`u hoa a e kohu ai O ka `i`iwi hulu `ula o ka nahele Hui: `Imi au ia `oe e ke aloha lâ Ma na paia `a`ala o Puna A i hea la `oe i nalowale iho nei Ho`i mai no kaua e pili | Where are you, my love The one who stirs my heart Who can help loving you Riches bound to me from the beginning The rain is not suitable When I am with a pretty woman The companion for me, truly compatible Is the red-feathered `i`iwibird of the uplands Chorus: I search for you, my love In the fragrant groves of Puna Where have you disappeared to? Come back and stay with me |
Source: King's Blue Book, Copyright 1916, 1943 - This song gained popularity after it was featured in the operetta "Prince of Hawaii" and became known as "The King's Serenade". It was also used as the theme song in the RKO movie "Bird of Paradise" filmed in 1932 and 1951. The song tells of a young man searching for his beloved who is lost in the Puna district of the Big Island. He pleads for her return. Queen Lili`uokalani wrote a song with the same title, December, 1874. The lyrics are almost identical but the melody, not similar. Charles E. King acknowledges the Queen as one of his musical mentors and he may have used parts of the text or tune, a practice that was common in Hawaiian music. |