`Ôpae E - Words by Pilahi Paki, Music by Irmgard `Âluli 

`Ôpae ê (`Ôpae ê)
`Ôpae ho`i (`Ôpae ho`i)
Ua hele mai au, ua hele mai au
Na kuahine
`Ai iâ wai (`Ai iâ wai)
`Ai iâ puhi (`Ai iâ puhi)
Nui `o puhi, a li`ili`i au
`A`ole loa

Pipipi ê (Pipipi ê)
Pipipi ho`i (Pipipi ho`i)
Ua hele mai au, ua hele mai au
Na kuahine
`Ai iâ wai (`Ai iâ wai)
`Ai iâ puhi (`Ai iâ puhi)
Nui `o puhi, a li`ili`i au
`A`ole loa

Pûpû e (Pûpû e)
Pûpû ho`i (Pûpû ho`i)
Ua hele mai au, ua hele mai au
Na kuahine
`Ai iâ wai (`Ai iâ wai)
`Ai iâ puhi (`Ai iâ puhi)
Nui `o puhi, a li`ili`i au
`A`ole loa

Kûpe`e ê (Kûpe`e ê)
Kû pe`e ho`i (Kû pe`e ho`i)
Ua hele mai au, ua hele mai au
Na kuahine
`Ai iâ wai (`Ai iâ wai)
`Ai iâ puhi (`Ai iâ puhi)
Nui `o puhi, a li`ili`i au
`A`ole loa

`Opihi ê (`Opihi ê)
`Opihi ho`i (`Opihi ho`i)
Ua hele mai au, ua hele mai au
Na kuahine
Mai maka`u
Na`u e pani
I ka maka a `ike `ole
Kêlâ puhi

`Opae
`Opae
I have come to you
For my sister
With whom is she?
With puhi
Puhi is large and I am tiny
No way

Pipipi
Pipipi
I have come to you
For my sister
With whom is she?
With puhi
Puhi is large and I am tiny
No way

Pûpû
Pûpû
I have come to you
For my sister
With whom is she?
With puhi
Puhi is large and I am tiny
No way

Kûpe`e
Kûpe`e
I have come to you
For my sister
With whom is she?
With puhi
Puhi is large and I am tiny
No way

`Opihi
`Opihi
I have come to you
For my sister
Fear not
For I will cover
The eyes so that
Puhi can't see

 

Source: Legend tells of a maiden from Kahakulaoa, Maui, kidnapped by an eel. Her brother, intent on saving her from the eel's cave, summoned sea creatures to help. All refused except the `opihi, who clamped themselves over the eel's eyes, blinding him. The brother was able to rescue his sister. `Ôpae is shrimp, Pûpû is seashell, Pipipi is mollusk, Kûpe`e is marine snail, `Opihi is limpet.

Pilahi Paki