Pa`ahana (Busy) - Traditional

 
He inoa keia nô Pa`ahana
Kaikamahine noho kuahiwi
Mele he inoa no Pa'ahana
 
Na`u i noho aku ia wao kele
Ia uka `iu`iu Wahiawa
Mele he inoa no Pa`ahana
 
`Opae `oeha`a o ke kahawai
`O ka hua o ke kuawa ka`u `ai ia
Mele he inoa no Pa`ahana
 
Mai kuhi mai `oe ka makuahine
A he pono keia e noho nei
Mele he inoa no Pa`ahana
 
`O kahi mu`umu`u pili i ka `ili
`O ka lau lâ`î ko'u kapa ia
Mele he inoa no Pa`ahana
 
Pîlali kukui kau lâ`au
Lau o ke pili ko`u hale ia
Mele he inoa no Pa`ahana
 
I hume iho au ma ka pûhaka
I nalo iho ho'i kahi hilahila
Mele he inoa no Pa`ahana
 
I ho`i iho ho`i au e pe`e
`Ike `ê `ia mai e ka `enemi
Mele he inoa no Pa`ahana
 
Lawa `ia aku au a i Mânana
Mâka`ika`i `ia e ka malihini
Mele he inoa no Pa`ahana
 
Ha`ina `ia mai ana ka puana
He mele he inoa no Pa`ahana
Mele he inoa nô Pa`ahana
 
This is a name song for Pa`ahana
The girl who lived in the hills
Namesong for Pa`ahana
 
I lived in the rain forests in
The distant uplands of Wahiawa
Namesong for Pa`ahana
 
Clawed shrimps of the streams and
Guava fruits my food
Namesong for Pa`ahana
 
Don't think about the mother
I live here and am glad
Namesong for Pa`ahana
 
A single mu`umu`u clings to my skin
My blankets are ti leaves
Namesong for Pa`ahana
 
Kukui gum on the trees
And pili grass my home
Namesong for Pa`ahana
 
I bind my loins
And hide my private parts
Namesong for Pa`ahana
 
I came and hid but was
Seen by the enemy
Namesong for Pa`ahana
 
I was taken to Manana
And visited by strangers
Namesong for Pa`ahana
 
Tell the refrain
A song, a name for Pa`ahana
Namesong for Pa`ahana
 

Source: Na Mele o Hawai'i Nei by Elbert & Mahoe - This hula tells the story of a young girl mistreated by her stepmother. She ran away from home to the hills above Wahiawa where she lived on river shrimp and guava until she was found by a cowboy. She was taken to Manana, the present site of Pearl City.