Pauoa Ka Liko Ka Lehua - Emma Bush 

Aia i Pauoa ka liko ka lehua
Ka ʻiʻini pau ʻole a ka makemake

Makemake nō wau la e ʻike lihi
*(makemake no au aʻe i ka lihi)
I ka lawe haʻaheo a ke kīkala

Pālua, pākolu i ke kekona
I ka hoʻi ʻākau hoʻi i ka hema

Hemahema ka palena ua lolelole
ʻUa ʻewa ka pilina me ka nihoniho

Nihoniho mai nei ko pelekoki
I ka iho ʻākau hoʻi i ka hema
*(I ka iho makawalu o ka lihilihi)

A he lihi kuleana koʻu i laila
I ka loʻu ʻūmiʻi a ka huapala

He aloha kahi wai o ʻAuwaiolimu
Ia wai lomi lima me kuʻu aloha

Haʻina ʻia mai ana ka puana
Aia i Pauoa ka liko lehua

*Alternate Stanza


There at Pauoa is the lehua bud
My endless yearning and desire

I'd like to catch even a glimpse
*(Of the proud swaying hips)
Of her figure strutting about

Twice, thrice in a second
Back and forth, right to left

Not fitting right, the border is turned inside out

The toothed edges do not fit perfectly

Your petticoat is scalloped
Swaying to the right and then to the left
*(The inner layers of quantities of lace)

I took a rightful interest there
The sweetheart bent over with a sidepain from walking too fast

Beloved is the stream of ʻAuwaiolimu
The water where hands were fondled with my loved one

Tell the refrain
There at Pauoa is the lehua bud


*Alternate Translation

 Sam Kanahele or Charles W. Booth are believed to have composed this song and given it to Emma Bush.

 
Ka Liko Lehua