Kōkeʻe (Dennis Kamakahi) - Cover by Kawehi

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LIVE at Blue Note Hawai'i on 10/27!: https://www.bluenotejazz.com/hawaii/shows/?event_detail=kawehi&timestamp=2022-10-27

Rev. Dennis Kamakahi wrote such beautiful traditional Hawaiian songs that still brings so much beauty through the language and melodies that stick in your brain. This song came out before I was born, but remained a classic growing up, and I still remember loving it as a keiki. Kaua'i is such a beautiful island - visiting my cousins was such a treat when I was young. I couldn't resist doing a song in ʻŌlelo - long ago Hawaiian used to be my first language, and as I get older, I crave that connection that only language can bring.

A HUGE mahalo to Kumu Kawika (Halau Makana O Hula) and Katalina for lending me their beautiful mea hula for me to add to this video! It was such a treat to dance again with hula implements after such a long time!


Kōkeʻe - Words & music by Dennis Kamakahi

Upu aʻe he manaʻo
I ka wēkiu o Kōkeʻe
I ka nani, o ka āina
O ka noe poʻaiʻai

Hui:
ʻO Kalalau, he ʻāina laʻa
I ka ua liʻi liʻi
ʻO Waimea kuʻu lei aloha
Never more to say goodbye

Hoʻi mai ana i kahikina
I ka la welawela
I ke kai hāwanawana
I Poʻipū ma Kōloa

Mele au no ka beauty
I ka uka ʻiuʻiu
I Kōkeʻe ua ʻike au
I ka noe poʻaiʻai


A thought recurs
To the summit of Kōkeʻe
In the beauty of the land
Of the encircling rain

Chorus:
Kalalau is a sacred land
In the drizzling rain
Waimea is my beloved wreath
Never more to say goodbye

Returning to the east
In the doubly hot sun
To the whispering sea
At Poʻipū in Kōloa

I sing for the beauty
In the lofty uplands
At Kokeʻe I saw
The encircling mist