Pupu A O `Ewa (Shells of `Ewa) - Traditional
Hui:
Püpü (a`o `Ewa) i ka nu`a (nä känaka)
E naue mai (a e `ike)
I ka mea hou (o ka `äina)
Ahe `äina (ua kaulana)
Mai nä küpuna mai
Alahula Pu`uloa he ala hele no
Ka`ahupahau, (Ka`ahupähau)
Alahula Pu`uloa he ala hele no
Ka`ahupähau, Ka`ahupähau


Nani Ka`ala hemolele i ka mälie
Kuahiwi kaulana a`o `Ewa
E ki`i ana i ka makani o ka `äina
Hea ka Moa`e eia au e ke aloha


Kilakila `o Polea noho i ka `olu
Ia home ho`ohihi a ka malihini
E walea ana i ka `olu o ke kiawe
I ka pa kolonahe a ke Kiu
Chorus
Shells of `Ewa throngs of people
Coming to learn
The news of the land
A land famous
From the ancient times
All of Pu`uloa, the path trod upon by
Ka`ahupahau
All of Pu`uloa, the path trod upon by
Ka`ahupahau


Beautiful Ka`ala, sublime in the calm
Famous mountain of `Ewa
That fetches the wind of the land
The tradewind calls, "here I am, beloved"


Majestic Polea in the coolness
Home delightful to visitors
Relaxing in the coolness of the kiawe
And the soft blowing of the Kiu wind

Source: Na Mele `O Hawai`i Nei by Elbert & Mahoe, Olowalu Massacre by Aubrey Janion - The news of the land was the discovery of pearl oysters at Pu`uloa, the Hawaiian name for Pearl Harbor, that was protected by Ka`ahupähau, the shark goddess. Ka`ala is the highest mountain on O`ahu and Polea is located in `Ewa. Nu`a and naue in the chorus is often interchanged with nuku (mouth) and lawe (bring). Moa`e is the name of a tradewind. In 1909, the Navy issued a $1.7 million contract for construction of the first Pearl Harbor dry dock. Kapuna Kanakeawe, a Hawaiian fisherman, told the contractor to build it in another location as the spot they selected was the home of Ka`ahupähau. Work stopped after 3 months as things kept going wrong. Cement would not pour and the contractor could not pump water out of the dry dock. February 17, 1913, 2 years behind schedule, opening ceremonies were held. Then it exploded. One man was killed, $4,000,000 lost and 4 years of work demolished. Another contract was issued in November, 1914. As work progressed, the early warning given by Kanakeawe was remembered. Mrs. Puahi, a kahuna, was called, and instructed the foreman, David Richards, in the necessary rituals to appease Ka`ahupähau and safeguard the project. After sacrifices were made, prayers chanted and rituals performed, the project was declared safe. When the bottom was pumped out, the skeleton of a 14-foot shark was discovered. Pearl Harbor was also the site of ancient Hawaiian fishponds. Copyright 1962 Criterion Music Corp