Click Title to Access Melody
- `O kau hana mau no ia
- `O ka ho`okipa i ke aloha
- A na`u i ho`oheno mua
- Ka makani `o Laulani
- Hui:
- He inoa kêia no Waipi`o
- `O Kahalelauokekoa
- I puia i ke `ala
- Onaona i ke ihu
E ka i`a hamau leo- E hi`ipoi malie nei
- I ka mea kâmeha`i
- O ua `âina nei
- `O ka ho`okipa i ke aloha
John Papa `I`i
- That is your custom
- To be hospitable
- And I have been favored
- To know the wind of Laulani
- Chorus:
- To be hospitable
- This is in praise of Waipi`o
- Of Kahalelauokekoa
- Full of fragrance
- That delights the nose
- Of Kahalelauokekoa
-
- O fish
- That silences the voice
- You to cherish
- The wonderous one of that land
- O fish
Source:King's Hawaiian Melodies Copyright 1928, 43, Charles E. King - Some credit this mele to George Allen, others to Charles Hopkins, but all agree Mekia Kealakai co-composed this mele. Written for Irene Kahalelauokekoa Holloway, the daughter of John Papa I`i, and the family home at Waipi`o, Ewa, O`ahu. John I`i was an attendent to Kauikeouli, son of Kamehameha Nui who became Kamehameha III. Verse I, stanza 4, Laulani is a place in Waipi`o. Hui, stanza 2, Princess Victoria Kamamalu, sister of Kamehameha IV and Kamehameha V, was the foster child of John I`i. The princess once found shelter beneath a koa tree and John named his daughter Kahalelauokekoa to commemorate this event. Verse 2 stanza 1, pipi and oysters are fish that silence the voice because oyster hunters use hand gestures and do not speak. Speech causes ripples in the water and makes it harder to find oysters. Translated by Mary Pukui. Music clip by Lani Lee