Nani Venuse - Words by Mary Puku`i, music by Maddy K. Lam
He nani kou e Venuse E kau ha`aheo nei `Olinolino mai i luna O ka maka o ka `ôpua He mana`o ho`ohali`a Ho`onape ana i ka poli I kau ha`i ana mai Eia a`e ku`u huapala Ku`u hoa kuikui lima O ka pô mahina la`i kônane I ka nehe mai a ke kai Hâwanawana i ke one Pili `ia me ke aloha I ka ua nui me ka makani Kama`ia a pa`a pono Ua kumu i ka pu`uwai Ha`ina mai ka puana No ka nani O Venuse `Olinolino mai i luna I ka maka o ka `ôpua	Beauty is yours, O Venus Appearing proudly on high Gleaming from on high In the face of the cloudbank A reminiscent thought Makes my breath come faster When you tell me Here comes my sweetheart My hand holding companion Of the quiet moonlit night When the sea rustles Whispering on the sand Together with love In the great rain and the wind Bound securely forever Rooted in the heart The story is told Of the beauty of Venus Gleaming from on high In the face of the cloudbank
Source: - Written between 1955-56, Kahauanu Lake and his group were the first to record it on Maddy Lam's recording label. The Polynesian navigator (ho`okele) had no instruments and used the prevailing winds, the moods of the sea, and the sky, with the sun as the most important guide, to sail the vast ocean. They steered by the stars, the easiest form of navigation at night, and were very knowledgable about astronomy, memorizing at least 220 star patterns and their paths in the heavens (where they rise, and where they set). They were able to distinguish planets from stars by their movements and also used planets for guides once their positions were determined. Planets appear to move among the fixed stars and were called hoku hele (traveling stars), or hoku `ae`a (wandering stars). The Hawaiians knew 5 planets: Mars - Hoku `ula (red star); Venus - Hoku loa (great star); Jupiter - Ka`awela - brilliant one; Mercury - Ukali, (Sun follower); Saturn - Makulu (dripping mist). Translated by Mary Pukui. Copyright Criterion Music Corp