Molokaʻi Hula - Words by Mary Robins, Music by John Noble
 

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Hanohano ka inoa aʻo Molokaʻi lā
Lei ana i ka pua o ke kukui

O ka wehi kaulana o kuʻu ʻāina
O Molokaʻi nui a Hina

O Hālawa e ʻalawa iho
ʻAlawa ka ulua e ma alo nei

O Pūkoʻo noʻu ko aloha
Me ka ulu kukui o Lanikāula

Hoʻolehua he ʻāina nani
Kaulana ka inoa hoʻopulapula

Kalamaʻula ahe home nani
Ho mai ko lama ʻai ala noʻu

Hea aku no wau e ō mai ʻoe
Lei ana i ka pua o ke kukui



Distinguished, the name of Molokaʻi
Adorned with a wreath of the kukui flower

Famous symbol of my land
Molokaʻi, born of Great Hina

Hālawa, glance down
Look quickly, see the ulua on the upper surface

Pūkoʻo, my love
With the kukui grove of Lanikāula

Hoʻolehua, a beautiful land
Name of the famous homestead

Kalamaʻula, oh, beautiful home
Come, let us go there to eat

I call to you, you answer
Adorned with a wreath of the kukui flower

Source Johnny Noble's Hawaiian Hula - Hālawa (curve) and Pūkoʻo (hill that supports) are in east Molokaʻi. Kalamaʻula (red lama tree) was the site of the first Molokaʻi homestead. Verse 3, stanza 2, Lanikāula (royal prophet) is the sacred kukui nut grove of the famous prophet buried here, after his death by sorcery. Hoʻolehua (no seed), another homestead so named because the wind blew away seeds that were planted. © 1934, 1962 Miller Music Corp. Music clip by Gippy Cooke