Nâ Kânaka Holo Lio - Palani Vaughn


Nâ Kânaka holo lio
Maluna o nâ lio heihei, la
E kala loa aku nei, la
Kuehu aku kula o ka `âina


Nâ Kânaka holo lio
Maluna o nâ lio heihei, la
I ka wâ o Kalâkaua
Kuehu aku lina poepoe


Nâ Kânaka holo lio
Ua heihei aku lâkou, la
Aia ma Kapio`olani Pâka
I ka lina poepoe mua la


Nâ Kânaka holo lio
Hanohano ka `ikena mâ ô, la
Mâkaukau `ia nâ holo lio, la
No ka ho`okûkû o ka lâ


Nâ Kânaka holo lio
Maluna o nâ lio heihei, la
Kokoke i lua `o Lê`ahi
Kâhi pâ ka makani mai Ko`olau la


The horsemen (of Hawai`i)
Mounted on race horses
A long time ago
Stirred dust along the plains

The horsemen (of Hawai`i)
Mounted on race horses
In the time of King Kalâkaua
Stirred dust around the racetrack


The horsemen (of Hawai`i)
Raced
There at Kapio1olani Park
At the first racetrack


The horsemen (of Hawai`i)
Glorious was the sight
As the horsemen prepared
For the competition of the day


The horsemen (of Hawai`i)
Mounted on race horses
Near the crater, Lê`ahi
Where the wind blows from the Ko`olau mountains


Source: Palani Vaughan & The King's Own "Ia `oe E Ka La Helu `Elua - Volume II" - Horses were first introduced in 1803, causing "great astonishment" among the natives. By 1840, horse racing was a favorite pastime of Hawaiians and races were common along Wilder Avenue. Sunday afternoon races were held in the 1850's and by the 1880's, a permanent one mile circular track was in use at Kapi`olani Park. Nâkâhili Productions, P.O. Box 1617, Honolulu, HI., 96806