Puna Paia `A`ala (Puna’s Bow’ry Walls) - Lili`uokalani


Iâ Puna paia `a`ala
Pili mau na ke ona ona
I laila ke kâunu ana
Kau pono ana na ka mana`o

Hui:
Puna paia `a`ala
Kilihea i ke onaona
Ona wela i ke aloha
Ua lawa iâ `oe me a`u

Ho`ohihi i ka nani
Pua mai a ka lehua
Ânehe au e ki`i
I pua kau no ku`u umauma

`O ka `ike keia
`O wau nö kou hoa like
Pelä iho ho`i käua
Ke ano la`i mai nei ka `öpua

Hai lohi ka mana`o
Loli`i nä pua i ka `iu
Kali ana ho`lono i ka leo
A hea mai e ho`okomo wau


Puna’s bowery walls of fragrance are
Groves laden with sweet flowers
There is where my heart yearns to be
To dwell there is my sincere desire

Chorus:
Puna’a shaded bowery walls
Pleasant and redolent with perfume
Sweet language, full of love
Binding you to me, forever

I long to see you
Flower of the lehua
Let me take you and pluck you
And press you close to me

Now that I know
That you and I are alike
Let us wait a while
As the cloud bank reposes in serenity

The thought is slow to conjure
As the blossoms above repose
Awaiting, listening for the voice
To call one to come in


Source: Charles E. King Music Co. Composed July, 1868, this love song is set in the Puna district on the island of Hawai’i, renowned for it’s groves of fragrant hala. The first 2 verses were published in He Buke Mele Hawai`i and the 3rd verse is from a Bishop Musuem manuscript. The 4th verse was preserved by Bill Kaiwa. Verse 1, 2, and hui translated by Lili`uokalani. Verse 3 & 4 translated by Hui Hânai