Hame Pila - by Charles Kaapa

Kaulana mai nei kahi hame pila lâ
Ka ipu honehone meka huapala lâ, huapala lâ

A he hewa iho `oe i ka `ama`ama lâ
He i’a lâwalu ho`omoemoe lâ, moemoe lâ

A e iho au i Waialua lâ
I laila iho au haupa iho `ai lâ, iho `ai lâ

Inâ `o Mine ku`u lio holo lâ
Mea `ole ke `alu iho nâ pali lâ, nâ pali lâ

Ha`ina `ia ma ana ka puana lâ
Kaulana mai nei kahi hame pila lâ, hame pila lâ

 

Famous is a certain hame pila
The sweet sounding instrument which teases the sweetheart

You are mistaken in pursing the juvenile mullet
It is a fish for broiling in ti leaves

And when I descend to Waialua
There I will eat heartily

If my horse were my own
Effortless would be the descent on the cliffs

Tell the refrain
Famous is a certain hame pila

 
Source: Hawaiian Hulas Copyright 1928, 56 Miller Music Corp - Translated, edited and notated by Lalepa Koga. Hame is a transliteration of an unidentified instrument; pila refers to any stringed instrument. The juvenile mullet, verse 2, stanza 1, perhaps represents someone beyond one's reach. Verse 3, stanza 1, the descent may describe the Waialua on Moloka`i. Cliffs, verse 3, stanza 2, represent obstacles.