Ka Inu Wai - Maika`i Ka Makani O Kohala - (Thirsty Breezes of Kohala )
Words by William.J. Sheldon Music by David Nape

 

Hui:
Ko aloha, ko aloha ka`u mea nui
He makana, he makana na ka pu`uwai

Maika`i ka makani o Kohala
`Ike `ia e ka inu wai
`O ka wai nö ia pono käua
Wai kaulana o ka `äina

Nani wale Niuli`i kähela i ka la`i
`Ekolu `öpua i hiki mai
A la`i `ia mai e ka ulu hala
Nalo wale ka luna o Häpu`u

Elua maua i ka holo i ka lio
Kaohi ia mai la e Pololu
Meaole kapi`ina a`o Kupehau
Ahu wale na lehua o Awini

Ha`aheo ka hau i ka mauna
Kahiko i ka ohu o ka nahele
E ka oni mai nei lililnoi
I ka ohu noe ike kuahiwi
Chorus:
Your love, your love is a great thing to me
A gift, a gift for the heart
Good is the wind of Kohala
Known as the drinking water
It's the water that is good for the two of us
Famous water of the land

The splendor of Niuli`i sprawling peacefully
Three clouds approach
Gently settling there at the hala grove
Hiding the top of Hapu`u

Two of us go horseback riding
Restraining there at Pololu
The climb was nothing up Kupehau
A cloak of lehua over Awini
 
Proud is the hau in the mountain
Adorned over by the forest
The mist moves about
The misty rain enshrouds the mountains
 


Source: Pete Donnelly - This song tells of the Inuwai winds that blow across Kohala and parch the land. Kohala, Niuli`i and Hapu`u are places on the big island. The 3 clouds represent 3 sisters and one is the writer’s sweetheart. Her home was hidden from his view by the hala (pandanus) grove of Hapu`u Translated by Ainsley Halemanu
Copyright Charles Hopkins 1899