Hualalai - The Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau - story about the song and lyrics below

Details

Description

The name of the song is "Hualalai". Words and music by Matilda Kauwe in 1930. It is about a ship named "Hualalai" that sailed inter-island from Big Island to Honolulu. Of course, the kaona, or hidden meaning of the song is such that in Hawaiian music, any time there is a reference to a ship, it really is talking about a woman. This song is also about a lovely woman who was popular with the men who left Big Island and went to Honolulu. And if it talks about the ship rocking back and forth, well, you can figure out what that means. The Hawaiian poetry of their songs was such that it was quite rude to out and out say things directly about a woman or refer to lovemaking or anything like that, so they used the principle of "kaona" to hide the direct meaning but those who knew, really KNEW the Hawaiian language would understand to what they were referring. That makes a seemingly simple melody and lyrics into something much more complex.
Description & lyrics provided by: A very special lady!
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Lyrics Hawaiian

Auhea wale `oe e Hualâlai `eâ
*Kaulana ka inoa `o Hualâlai `eâ
Ke kuini `o ke kai Pakipika `eâ

`O `oe ka `ulua a`o ka moana `eâ
A ka lawai`a a`e li`a mau nei `eâ

Ahê sure maoli no me ke onaona `eâ
Ua `ohu i ka lei o ka hînano `eâ

Ho`okomo i ke awa a`o Honolulu `eâ
Ua piha hau`oli nâ malihini eâ

Ha`ina `ia mai ana kapuana `eâ
*Ha`ina ka inoa `o `eâ Hualâlai `eâ
Ke kuini `o ke kai Pakipika `eâ

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Lyrics translated to English

Listen, this is for you, Hualâlai
*Famous is the name of Hualâlai
Queen of the Pacific
You are like the ulua in the ocean
A favorite of the fishermen

Surely, I smell the native fragrance
As we are adorned with the hînano lei

Landing at Honolulu harbor
Newcomers are filled with joy

Tell the refrain of
*Tell of the name of Hualâlai
The queen of the Pacific