Lei Hala O Kaua`i - Words & music by Alice Namakelua
E ku`u lei hala o Kaua`i
He lei kâhiko mau `oe no`u

Ho`ohihi ia `oe e ka lehulehu
Ua mânai ia me ka laua`e

Ke ko mai nei a he a ka makani
E hali ana i ko `ala onaona

A na`u no `oe a`e lei a`e
A kau ma neia kîpo`ohiwi

Ha`ina `ia mai ana ka puana
E ku`u lei hala me ka laua`e

Ha`ina hou mai ana ka puana
Kâhiko mau `oe no ku`u kino


Alice Namakelua

My hala lei of Kaua`i
A lei to deck me with

You are admired by the people
It is strung with the laua`e fern

The soft breeze of wind blows
Bringing me your fragrance

I shall wear you
Over my shoulders

The story is told
Of my hala lei with laua`e fern

Again, I tell the story
Of the lei that will deck
this body of mine forever
Source: "Aunty Alice Namakelua’s Lifetime Hawaiian Compositions" - The composer spent 4 1/2 months on Kaua`i in 1959, teaching hula, singing, and ukulele. The hala was in season and she wore hala lei every day because she loved hala leis. She composed this song Sept 6, 1959, in memory of her stay in Kaua`i at the home of Senator Francis M. F. and Ruth Ching at Kalaheo. Translation by Alice Namakelua. Copyright 1973, Heinz Guenther Gerhard Pink