Na `Ono O Ka `Âina (Delicacies Of The Land) - Traditional

 

Na `ono o ka `âina
Hali`alia` wale mai no
`O ka ma`i`i`i me ke kole
Ma ka onaona o na Kona
Mai apakau i ka ha`i
O nahu pu me ka unahi
`Ai no na ke kino pono`i
Lawe a`e no a `ike i ka `ono
 
Ka ono i`a a nâ kûpuna
I`a kaulana o ka `âina
He `ono i ka `ai maka i ka lomilomi
He `ono nô i ka nahunahu pû
Mai kali a pau nâ niho
O hala `e ka Pu`ulena
`O ka wâ kêia `o ka `ono loa
A i `ike i ke kuhikuhinia
 
`O ka maikoiko ke pala
`O ka `ina me ke ka`ukama kai
`O ka `ôpelu me ke akule
A he nui wale aku nâ `ono
Mai apakau na`e i kâ ha`i
O nahu pû `oe me ka unahi
`Ai no na ke kino pono`i
**(A`ole `o ka hana na ke kino pono`i iho lâ)
Lawe a`e no a `ike i ka `ono

** (alternate stanza)

Delicacies of the land
Remembered fondly
Ma`i`i`i and kole fish
The fragrance of Kona
Don't grab someone else's
Or bite the scales
Eat the true flesh
Take and taste the delicacy
 
Fish delicacies of the ancients
Famous fish of the land
Delicious to eat raw or lomilomi
Delicious to chew
Don't wait until teeth are gone
Or the Pu`ulena wind has passed by
Now is the delicious time
To savor rich fat 
 
The maikoiko fish slightly mellow
Sea urchins and sea cucumbers
Opelu and akule
My, how delicious
Don't grab someone else`s
Or bite the scales
Eat the true flesh
** This action does not only nourish the body
Take and taste the delicacy

** (alternate translation)

 

Source: Keali`i Reichel CD "Ke`alaokamaile - Instructions on eating fish from Lana`i, this mele may have been composed by Abraham Kaulia, a Lana`i cowboy.