Ahi Wela (Fire of Love) - words by Lizzie Doirin & Mary Beckley
`Elua nô mâua I `ike ia hana La`i wale ke kâunu Ho`onipo i ka poli Hui Ahi wela mai nei loko I ka hana a ke aloha E lalawe nei ku`u kino Konikoni lua i ka pu`uwai *Konikoni lua i ka pô nei `Auhea wale ana `oe Ku`u pua i kui a lei I lei ho`ohiehie Nô ke anu ahiahi Ku`u pua i li`a ai A`u i kui ai a lawa I lei ho`ohiehie No ke ano ahiahi Elua nô mâua A i `ike ia hana La`i ai ka nanea `ana Ho`onipo i ku`u kino *alternate lyrics	There were just the two of us Who knew all about The activities of love That were within the heart   Chorus: Like a hot fire inside The action of love Going through my entire body And throbbing in my heart *Throbbing last night Where are you The flower that I strung into a lei A lei to adorn me In the cool evening hour My flower for which I yearn I have strung and made Into an ornamental wreath In the cool evening hour There were two of us Who knew about it We enjoyed it in the calm I was being wooed *alternate lyrics
Source: Johnny Noble's collection - Composer of the melody and older lyrics are unknown, but Charles E. King says the tune was borrowed from a band on a Russian ship that visited Honolulu. The newer version by Doirin & Beckley was written about 1891. Doirin, a singer with the Royal Hawaiian Band was the first wife of Alfred Alohikea, the Kaua`i composer. Beckley was a lady-in-waiting to Queen Lili`uokalani. The two versions are basically the same, a poetry of passion, telling of sexual combustion that may result from the act of love. Much of the Hawaiian genre of poetry refers to sexual organs and sexual acts that have roots in ancient Hawaiian chants. La`i refers to the peace that follows passion; when coupled with kaona, it means the thrill of lovemaking. Translated by Mary Pukui