Waikîkî Hula - Words & Music by Isaac Keola

 
I Waikîkî anuanu au
Ho`i au i Kewalo pumehana au

Aia i Kalihi ka`u aloha
O ka hale kula nui `o Kamehameha

Mea `ole ia loa i kahi mana`o
Ma hope ho`i au me ku`u aloha

He loa ka `imina a ka huapala
`Alo a`e i ke kula o Kaiwi`ula

`Ôlelo kauoha na ku`u aloha
I ka hola `eiwa hiki aku wau

Kakali au a hala ka manawa
Pau ka mana`olana o ka hiki mai

Ke hulu ho`i nei `o Lelesia
Keiki o ka pua la`i

Ha`ina `ia mai ana ka puana
Ho`i au i Kewalo pumehana au
At Waikiki I am cold
Returning to Kewalo I am warm

There at Kalihi is my love
At Kamehameha High School

I don't mind traveling the distance
To be with my love

A long time I searched for this sweetheart
Over the plains of Kaiwi`ula

My love said be there
At nine 'o clock

I waited long past the appointed hour
The thought came to me, she is not coming

Lelesia is returning
Child of the la`i flower

Tell the refrain
I return to Kewalo and I am warm

 

Source: Copyright 1929, 57 CBS Miller Catalog Translated by Kamehameha Schools HSI