Pauoa Ka Liko Ka Lehua - Emma Bush

 
Aia i Pauoa ka liko ka lehua
Ka `i`ini pau `ole a ka makemake
 
 
Makemake nô wau la e `ike lihi
*(makemake no au a`e i ka lihi)
I ka lawe ha`aheo a ke kîkala
 
 
Pâlua, pâkolu i ke kekona
I ka ho`i `âkau ho`i i ka hema
 
 
Hemahema ka palena ua lolelole
`Ua `ewa ka pilina me ka nihoniho
 
 
Nihoniho mai nei ko pelekoki
I ka iho `akau ho`i i ka hema
*(I ka iho makawalu o ka lihilihi)
 
 
A he lihi kuleana ko`u i
He aloha kahi wai o `Auwaiolimu
Ia wai lomi lima me ku`u aloha

Ha`ina `ia mai ana ka puana
Aia i Pauoa ka liko lehua

*Alternate Stanzas
 
There at Pauoa is the lehua bud
My endless yearning and desire
 
 
I'd like to catch even a glimpse
*(Of the proud swaying hips)
Of her figure strutting about
 
 
Twice, thrice in a second
Back and forth, right to left
 
 
Not fitting right, the border is turned inside out
The toothed edges do not fit perfectly
 
 
Your petticoat is scalloped
Swaying to the right and then to the left
*(The inner layers of quantities of lace)
 
 
I took a rightful interest there
The sweetheart bent over with a sidepain from
walking too fast

Beloved is the stream of `Auwaiolimu
The water where hands were fondled with my loved one

Tell the refrain
There at Pauoa is the lehua bud

 

Ka Liko Lehua
 

Sam Kanahele or Charles W. Booth are believed to have composed this song and given it to Emma Bush.