Cockeyed Mayor of Kaunakakai - Words & music by R. Alex Anderson
He wore a malo and a coconut hat One was for this and the other for that All the people shouted as he went by He was the cockeyed mayor of Kaunakakai He was just a lazy malihini haole boy But all the girls were crazy To share his fish and poi, Oh He wore a lei and he wore a smile He drank a gallon of oke to make life worthwhile Then he made 'em laugh 'til he made 'em cry He was the cockeyed mayor of Kaunakakai The horse he rode was skinny A broken down old female So he placed a big pânini Right under that horse's tail, Oh He made her buck and he made her fly All over the island of Moloka`i You could hear the kanes and wahines cheer As they gave him a lei of kîkânia Now you've heard my story About the mayor of Kaunakakai All his fame and glory On the island of Moloka`i
Source: Copyright 1935 Edward B. Marks Music Corp - Paul Fagan, owner of Pu`uhoku Ranch, Moloka`i requested a song for his special guest, movie star, Warner Baxter, in 1934. The mythical mayor became cockeyed because the last two syllables rhymed with Kaunakakai. Although Baxter liked the tune and lyrics, his studio did not, fearing it would create a bad image of drunkeness for Hollywood.