April 15, 2005

Aloha O'e (Farewell to Thee)

I love you Hilo...

It is said that Queen Lili`uokalani composed "Aloha O`e" in Maunawili in 1897 after witnessing the fond parting embrace of two lovers, one of whom was probably her sister, Likelike, who later married A. S. Cleghorn. The final verse mentions the rose blossoms (nā pua rose) at Maunawili. Liliu`okalani intended "Aloha O`e" as a love song; but it became a song of farewell, when she was banished from her beloved Hawaii not long after this song was composed.


Aloha O'e

In Hawaiian

Ha`aheo `e ka ua I nā pāli
Ke nihi a`ele i ka nahele
E uhai ana paha i ka liko
Pua `āhihi lehua o uka.

hui:
Aloha `oe, aloha `oe
E ke onaona noho i ka lipo.
"One fond embrace," a ho`i a`e au
A hui hou aku.

`O ka hali`a aloha ka i hiki mai
Ke hone a`e nei i ku`u manawa.
`O `oe nō ka`u ipo aloha
A loko e hana nei.

Maopopo ku`u `ike i ka nani
Nā pua rose o Mauna-wili.
I laila ho`ohie nā manu,
Miki`ala i ka nani o ia pua.

in English

Proudly the rain on the cliffs
Creeps into the forest
Seeking the buds
And miniature lehua flowers of the uplands.

Chorus:
Farewell to thee, farewell to thee
O fragrance in the blue depths.
One fond embrace and I leave
To meet again.

Sweet memories come
Sound softly in my heart.
You are my beloved sweetheart
Felt within.

I understand the beauty
Of rose blossoms at Mauna-wili.
There the birds delight
To the beauty of this flower.

If I forget thee, my Hawaii, it will mean I have forgotten all that means anything to me, for you were my dream and my hope for so very long. It is with sorrow that I leave thee and regret. I barely knew you and may never know you truly and that makes me very sad...