Kaleleonälani (Flight of the Royal Ones) - by Nu`uanu / Sylvester Kalama

 
Welo ana e ka hae Hawai`i
Häli`i lua i ka `ili kai
E ha`i mai ana i ka lono
Ke kuini Emalani ko luna

Hui:
Kaleleonälani kou inoa
A he hiwahiwa `oe na ka lähui
A he lani `oia la no `oukou
A he milimili ho`i na mäkou

A waho o na nalu o Kölea
`Ike `ia i ka nani o Kahului
`A`ohe mea nani `ole o laila
Ua nu`a ka lehua `au i ke kai

Ui a`e nei Emalani
Pehea mai la `oukou
Ka manawa kupono këia
E nä hoa hele o ke kai loa

The Hawaiian flag is waving
Over the surface of the sea
Telling the news
Queen Emma is on board

Chorus:
Kaleleonälani is your name
You are beloved by the nation
She is the chiefess for all of you
And cherished by us

Outside the surf of Kolea
The beauty of Kahului is seen
There is not a thing without beauty
Even lehua blossoms floated out to sea (to greet her)

A question from Emalani
How are all of you?
This is a suitable time (to land)
My traveling conmpanions on the high seas

 


Queen Emma Na`ea Rooke 

 

Source: King's Hawaiian Melodies Copyright 1930, 43 - This mele for Queen Emma Na`ea Rooke was composed as a greeting for her on the occasion of her trip to Maui, in 1882. As her ship entered Kahului harbor, lehua blossoms were floated on the water to greet the Queen, verse 2. Lucy Kamalalehua Peabody, a companion of the queen, says this was written by Sylvester Kalama, who was aboard the ship that took the queen to Maui. Charles E. King credits this mele to Nu`uanu. After the death of her husband, Alexander Liholiho Kamehameha IV, Emma campaigned for the royal office, losing the election to David Kalâkaua. Her campaign headquarters was in Nu`uanu Valley, and many believe this was used as the composer's name. The Queen was always addressed as Emma or Emalani, but was called Kalanikaumaka (the chiefess to whom everyone looks) by her immediate family. Upon the tragic death of her son, Prince Albert in 1862, she asked her people to call her Kaleleokalani, the flight of the heavenly one. When her husband, Kamehameha IV died a year later, she asked that the name be changed to the plural form, Kaleleonälani.