Kawaihae Hula (Water of Wrath) - by Bill Ali`iloa Lincoln

Click Title to Access Melody

Ike ia e mâkou o Kawaihae
I ke kai nehe `ôlelo me ka `ili`ili

Kau aku ka mana`o no Puaka`ilima
I ka nalu ha`i mai la o Ka`ewa

Hô`ike Poli`ahu i ke kapa hau
Ho`i ana i ka piko o Mauna Kea

Ha`ina ia mai ana ka puana
I ke kai nehe `ôlelo me ka `ili`ili

We saw Kawaihae
Where the sea whispers over the pebbles

We longed to see Puaka`ilima
Where the surf of Ka`ewa rolls

Poli`ahu displays her mantle of snow
Spread out on the summit of Mauna Kea

This is the end of my song
Of the sea that whispers over the pebbles
Source: "Na Mele Aloha" - Verse 2, stanza 1, Puaka`ilima (the ilima blossom) was an islet off Kawaihae, in the Kona district, where `ilima was cultivated to make nâ lei for the ali`i. The tsunami of 1946 destroyed the islet. The surf in the area was also called Puaka`ilima because it resembled the ilima lei. Verse 3, stantza 1, Poli`ahu is the snow goddess. Translated by Mary Pûku`i, Music clip by Gippy Cooke