Ka Moaʻe - by Solomon Hiram

ʻAuhea wale ʻoe e ka moaʻe
E lawe hele nei i kuʻu aloha

Ahea la ʻoe hoʻihoʻi mai
A he lei poina ʻole ia naʻu

A he wehi kāhiko nō kuʻu kino
A he hoa i ke anu pili hemo ʻole

E lei aku ʻoe i kuʻu aloha
I koʻolua nou nō kahi mehameha

Mai noho ʻoe a hoʻopoina
I kahi pōkē pua lalana

A kāua la i kui iho ai
Kāhiko nō ka pō ua liʻiliʻi

Ilihia hoʻi au a i kō leo
I ka pane ʻana mai me ka nahenahe

I he aha nei hana nui au
E haʻi mai `oe e kuʻu aloha

He aloha i pili ʻia e ke onaona
Kuʻu ipo i ke kai malino aʻo Kona

Nō Kona mai nō ke kai malino
Nā hau o Mā`ihi e kaulana nei

Haʻina ʻia mai ka puana
Kuʻu ipo i ke kai malino aʻo Kona

Listen, o tradewind
Who takes my love away

When will you return
The person, I will never forget

A fine adornment for my body
A friend never to leave me when I am cold

Wear my love as a lei
And as your companion in lonely places

Do not forget
The warm bouquet of flowers

We shall be interwoven
As blessing for nights with fine rain

I will be thrilled by your voice
And your soft answers


Whatever I am doing
Just call me, my love

Love entwined with sweet fragrance
My sweetheart of the calm sea of Kona

From Kona's calm seas
Famous dew of Māʻihi

Tell the story
My sweetheart of the calm sea of Kona


Source: King's Blue Book Copyright 1916,43 - The composer was a member of the Royal Hawaiian Band at the turn of the century when Moaʻe was the more correct usage rather than tradewind. Verse 11, Stanza 2, Māʻihi, a place in Kona is named for Māʻihiʻalakapualono (fragrant sacred child of Lono), a wind goddess. Translated by Edwina Kanoho & Kanani Mana