| `O ka pâ mai a ka Ma`a`a
Halihali mai ana lâ i ke `ala
Ke `ala onaona o ka lîpoa
Hana `oe a kani pono
Hui:
Nani wale ia pu`e one
I ka nalu he`e mai a`o Kananaka
Kahi a mâkou a e he`e ai
I ka `ehu`ehu o ke kai
`O ka mahina hiki aloalo
Ho`ola`ila`i ana lâ i nâ pali
Pôhina wehiwehi i ke onaona
Koni ma`e`ele i ke kino
`O ka pâ kônane a ka mahina
Ho`ola`ila`i ana i ka pô la`i
Konikoni ana i ka `iwi hilo
Koni ma’e’ele i ke kino
Nani ka uila lâ o Kîlauea
I ka lana mâlie i ke kai
Hô wale ua lâ a Ho`ola`ila`i
A kapalilii ka `ili o ke kai
|
The Ma`a`a wind blows
Bringing the scent
The fragrance of lîpoa
Pick (lipoa) until we have enough
Chorus:
Beautiful are the sand dunes
Kananaka surfs inland
Where we also surf
In the spray of the sea
The moon rises
Poised above the cliffs
Moonbeams so alluring
Thrilling the body
The moon shines brightly
Bringing peace to the darkness
Thrilling one to the core of one's being
Thrilling the body
Beautiful, the lightning of Kîlauea
Lying calmly in the sea
Bearing the rain of Ho`ola`ila`i
Rippling the surface of the sea
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| Source: Keali`i Reichel CD - Kananaka was
a mermaid who lived in the sea outside of Lahaina, Maui. This hula noho
was usually taught to young girls beginning hula instructions. La`i refers
to the peace that follows passion or the thrill of lovemaking. `iwi hilo
is the thighbone or last rib bone, meaning the very core of one's being
in Hawaiian poetry. Ma`a`a is the famous wind at Lahaina. It is believed
that when a lot of foam is near the shoreline or the mouth of a stream,
the mermaid is present. If the mermaid was in the loko (fishpond), fish
could not be caught for food. They would be bitter and good to eat. He
Aloha Mele notes the Maui elders credit this mele to Kauhailikua, a court
dancer for King Kalâkaua.Verse 4 translated by Kanani Mana |