Ali`ipoe (Canna) - by William Maka`ehu
`Upu a`e ka mana`o nôu e ke aloha Ku`u ipo ho`oheno o ke aumoe Ua pili ua pa`a he hali`a ka mana`o I ka hana mau `ole anei pu`uwai A he waiwai nou e ke aloha He u`i he nohea i ku`u maka E kîlohi iho au ka waiho ka hela `O Hâ`upu i ka maka o ka `ôpua A he pua i wili `ia me ke `ala mokihana Hoapili o ka maile lau li`i `A`ole no he lua e like aku me `oe Onaona i ka ihu ke honi Ha`ina `ia mai ana ka puana Ku`u ipo ho`oheno o ke aumoe A`o `oe a`o wau i ka pô la`ila`i I ka malu o ka lau ali`ipoe	My thoughts recur, for you my love My sweetheart, so cherished at midnight We cling to each other, in thought and mind By the endless act of our hearts You are a treasure, my love So beautiful and lovely for the eyes to behold I glance as you lie spread out in view Like Ha`upu to the eyes of fluffy clouds You`re a flower entwined with fragrant mokihana Companion of the small-leafed maile There is none to compare with you So fragrant for the nose to breathe I end and close my story Of my sweetheart so cherished at midnight Only you and I in such a calm night Sheltered in the shade of canna leaves
Source: An old love song from Kauai - The seeds of the ali`ipoe are used in the la`amia calabash for the rattle of the `ulî`ulî. Translated by Alice Nâmakelua