Honolulu Harbor - Mary Pulaʻa Robins

Kaulana mai nei Honolulu Harbor
ʻO ka ipu kukui mālamalama

He nani no ʻoe ua ʻike ʻia
A ka nui manu aʻe pōhai nei

Kū mai o Robins me ka hiehie
He ui ninau ia Henry Aa

E ʻuleu kaua a e pono ai
I loaʻa ka makani ma i luna mai

Hoʻike piha ʻoe i kou ike
Noia nowelo a ike okamai

O ka pāia keleawe o hulali ana
ʻŌ ʻapuʻu kaimana ʻālohilohi

Ua hana noʻeau ʻia e Pālani
Ke pipiʻo nei e ke ānuenue

O ka pipiʻo no ia Honolulu Harbor
A welo ē ka hae helu ʻekahi

Lohe aku Kaleponi he ʻāina nani
Ua kau ka hōkū i waena konu

O ka piue kohu ana ko umauma
E owaka e ika naula i Kilauea

Ka moena weleweka ka moena ia
O puʻu kaimana kau umauma
*(Ke ʻala lauaʻe e moani nei)

Imua kāua a lanakila
Ke Akua mau loa kou kokua

Hea aku au e ō mai ʻoe
E ō e Robins i kou inoa

*Hōʻike aʻe ʻoe a i kou nani
I ka mālamalama ʻoi kelakela

*Haʻina ʻia mai ʻana ka puana
O ka ipu kukui mālamalama

E ō e Honolulu Harbor kou inoa

O ka ipu kukui mālamalama

*These verses and alternate stanza, do not appear in the original publication, but are commonly sung today

Famous is Honolulu Harbor
The shining beacon

You see the beauty
Surrounded by sounds of the birds










**The metal walls reflect
A mound of diamond splendor

Decorated skillfully by the French
The rainbow's arch

The arch in Honolulu Harbor
The first flag flies

California, a beautiful land, heeds
The star fixed in the center





**Velvet mat is the carpet
One great diamond mound
*(The fragrance of lauaʻe is borne)

Forward to our destination
With the help of God

When I call, you answer
Robins, answer to your name

Show your beauty
The far-reaching light


The story is told
Of the shining beacon

When I call, Honolulu Harbor, answer to your name, The shining beacon


**Stanzas similar to verses in Royal Hawaiian Hotel
*



Source: This mele appeared in Nupepa Kuokoa, June, 1919, under the title: He Hula E.E. Robins - Hakuʻia , Mrs. Mary Robins.
Translation by Kini Sullivan