Hilo March - Words & music by Joseph Kapaeau Ae`a

 

`Auhea wale `oe e ke `ala tuberose
He moani `a`ala i ke ano ahiahi
Ua like me ka lau vabine
I ka hoene i ka poli pili pa`a

Hui:
`Ike hou ana i ka nani a`o Hilo
I ka uluwehiwehi o ka lehua
Lei ho`ohihi
Hi`i a ka malihini
Mea `ole i ke kono a ke aloha

E aloha a`e ana i ka makani Pu`ulena
Ka makani kaulana o ka `âina
Home noho a na `i`iwi polena
Mea `ole i ke kono a ke aloha

Nani wale no Hilo
I ka ua Kanilehua
Me he mea ala e `i mai ana
Eia iho a hiki mai


Heed the fragrance of the tuberose
Fragrance wafted at at evening time
Like verbena leaves
Singing in the heart, tightly clasped

Chorus:
Behold again the beauty of Hilo
And the beautiful grove of lehua
Cherished lei
Worn by visitors
Nothing deters the invitation of love

Greeting the Pu`ulena wind
Famous wind of the land
Home of scarlet honey-creepers
Not indifferent to the call of love

Hilo is so beautiful
With the rustling of lehua in the rain
As though saying
Wait until the princess comes


Source: Nâ Mele o Hawai`i Nei - Ae`a, a member of the Royal Hawaiian Band composed this song in the summer of 1881, on the eve of the band's departure to Hilo. They accompanied Princess Lydia Lili`uokalani Kamakaeha Kaalaniali`i Neweweli`i on a 10-day tour of the Big Island. The original title was Ke `Ala Tuberose and was set to a slower tempo. Berger arranged it as a march for the band and first played it in Hilo. It has been adopted as the island song of Hawai`i, the big island. Pu`ulena is the cold wind at Kîlauea. Translated by Sam Elbert & Noelani Mahoe