Hanalei Bay - Alfred Alohikea
Ha`aheo wale ho`i `oe
Ka ua kikoni `ili
`Ili aku ka mana`o
I ka lihilihi kai a`o Manolau
A lauâhea ke `ala
Me he ala ku`u hoa pili `ia
Noho aku wau
Ho`olono o ke kai
Ka hoene mai no i ka pue one
`Alawa aku hoi au
Ke kani mai a ke `ao
O kahi manu heahea
No ke `one kaulana a`o Hanalei

`Auhea wale ho`i `oe
Ke one a`o Puarose
He ono kaulana
A he milimili ho`i
Na ka malihini he malihini ho`i `oe
He kama`âina au
Ua noho `ia ho`i a kupa i `anei iho no
Ka`i`ini ka `ano`i
A kau i ka luna
o Namolokama
Noho ana no i ka `olu
I ka lau a`o ke paina
He hoa pili ho`i no
Ke one kaulana a`o Hanalei

Proud are you
Of the rain that pelts the skin
The mind goes forth
To the edge of the sea of Manolau
Surrounding us is a perfume
That seems to pinch the skin as a lover pinches
I sit quietly
Listening to the sea
Singing softly to the sand dunes
I glance up
At hearing the a`o cry
That bird that calls over
The famous sand of Hanalei

Where are you
O sand of Puarose
Sand that is much admired
By visitors
You are a stranger, I am a native
Who has lived here a long time
All this I desire
And am very fond of
All the way up to the top
of Namolokama Falls
Here abides the shade
Of the pine trees
Close companions of
The famous sand of Hanalei
Source: KSB - Verse 1, stanza 11, A`o is the black puffin or shearwater, the only seabird endemic to Hawai`i that lays a single egg. A`o is also indentified as an only child. The call of this bird, away from its usual haunts was considered an ill omen. Verse 2, stanza 2, Puarose is a beach. Translated by Mary Pukui