Paniau - Words & music by Helen D. Beamer

Ua nani Paniau
I ka‘u ‘ike
Ka waiho kâhelahela
I ka la‘i

Ahuwale ka moana Pâkîpika
I kaulana i ka mâlie
Nâna e hi‘ipoi nei Hawai‘i
Ku‘u one hânau

Ka i‘a e holoholo ana i ka nalu
Ha‘i mai i ka hâpapa
Me ke kai pumehana hone i ke kino
He nanea mai ho‘i kau

Aia ma mua pono
‘Au mai ana i ke kai
Kêlâ kuahiwi nani o Maui
Haleakalâ he inoa

Ia ‘oe e Kohala e pâhola nei
Mai uka a ke kai
‘Aina ho‘ohihi a ka wahine
‘O ‘oe nô e ka ‘oi

Na ke ahi lau makani i ho‘opâ mai
‘Ike ana au i ka nani
Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, Hualalai
Nâ kia‘i o ka home

Ka wai ‘au‘au o ka wahine
Aia i ka ‘olu
‘O ke kiawe, ‘o ka milo, ‘o ke kou, ‘o ka hau
Me ka niu ha‘a i ke one

Eia ka puana e lohe ‘ia
Na Ko‘olaniohakau
E mau ka maika‘i me ke maluhia
Ua nani Paniau


 Beautiful is Paniau
In my sight
A panoramic expanse
In the calm

In plain view is the Pacific Ocean
Renowned for its calm
Cradling this Hawai’i
Sands of my birth

The fish run through the waves
Breaking on the reef
Warm seas softly caress the body
How very relaxing

Directly in front
Jutting out into the sea
That beautiful mountain of Maui
Haleakalâ, her name

You, Kohala, spread out here
From uplands to the sea
Enchanted land of the lady
You are the best

A gentle breeze caresses
I see the beauty (of)
Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, Hualalai
Guardians of the home

A fresh water bathing spring for the lady
There in the cool shelter
Of the kiawe, the milo, the kou, the hau
And the dwarf coconut trees on the beach

Here is my song to be heard
For Ko’olaniohakau
May beauty and peace continue forever
Beautiful is Paniau
Source: Songs of Helen Desha Beamer - Composed for the beach home of Al & Annabelle Ruddle at Puako, Hawai’i. Copyright 1987 P.C. Beamer, Jr.