No ka ipo lei manu
He manu ku`u hoa
Noho mai i ka nahele
`I`iwi o uka
`Elua mâua
Ua o Hanalei
Ua anu ho`i au
Na hau o Ma`ihi
Na ulu o wehi
Ke `ala o ka hala
Onaona i ka ihu
Hone `ana i ka mana`o
Ko hiki `ana mai
Ha`ina ka puana
King Kalâkaua San Francisco, Jan 1891 -
Queen Kapi`olani
For my cherished sweetheart
My companion is a bird
Who dwells in the forest
The `i`iwi bird of the uplands
Appears yellow in the rain
The two of us
In the night of great rain
The rain of Hanalei
I'm numb with the cold
I'm also cooled
In the cold misty rain
The hau of Ma`ihi
Swimming in the sea
The vegetation
Spreading out
The fragrance of the hala
Is borne on the wind
Sweetly scented
Is the fragrance of the rose
A sweetly recurring thought
Urges my body to travel
I am made happy
By thoughts of your arrival
Tell the refrain
My chief is gone forever
Source: Researched and translated by Lehua Kalima - In Hawaiian poetry, the sweetheart is personified as the `i`iwi bird. Julia Kapi`olani, the shy and retiring widow of Chief Bennett Namakeha, was one of the most beautiful women of her time and married High Chief David Kâlakaua, Dec. 1863, who was elected king in 1874. A devout christian with high morals, her motto was "Kulia I Ka Nu`u (Strive for the Highest)". Beloved by her people, distinguished by her charitable deeds, two missions close to her heart stood out: (1) she always raised money for the leper settlement in Kalaupapa to improve their living conditions, and (2) perpetuation of the Hawaiian Race. She wanted to establish a hospital for underprivileged Hawaiian women to have the best care for mothers and babies. Attending Queen Victoria's Jubilee celebration, 1887, in London, Kapiolani made many visits to hospitals and foundling homes and returned to Hawaii with much enthusiam and exciting plans for her hospital. She raised $8000 and her most cherished dream was realized when Kapiolani Maternity Home opened June 14, 1890, on the site of the former home of Princess Kekaulike. Queen Kapi`olani composed this song for her husband after he left Hawaii for the mainland aboard the Charleston, Nov, 1890. Under great political stress, his doctors thought a change of climate would benefit his failing health. He arrived in San Francisco, Dec 4 and took up residence at the Palace Hotel. He toured southern California and returned to San Francisco the middle of January for medical attention. January 20, 1891, the King died at the Palace Hotel. His last words were "Tell my people I tried". He never heard this haunting love song. Copyright 1935, Miller Music Inc