Haili Pō I Ka Lehua - Words by Konia & music by Charles K. Hopkins

E ō e Liliʻu i ko inoa
Nani Haili pō i ka lehua
Noho ia ʻala i ke onaona
Honi ke kupa i ke ʻala

Hui:
Waiho ʻē nō i ka poli o ka ipo hīnano
Nānā aku he nani wale nō ka nahele
Ilihia ʻoko`a i ka maikaʻi o ka pua
I kui au a hoʻolawa i ko aloha

E ō e Liliʻu i ko inoa
Nani Kīlauea paʻa i ka noe
Pō luna o Uēkahuna i ke ʻala
Nalo akula nā lehua neʻe i ka papa

Hui:
ʻIke ʻole au i nā hala o Halaaniani
I ke ālai ʻia mai e ka ua Nahunahu
E ake au e hoʻi mai ka Puʻulena e pili
E moe aloha māua me ka moani

Answer O Liliʻu to your name song
Beautiful Haili, dense with lehua blossoms
Place that is filled with their fragrance
All who go there know their sweetness

Chorus:
You, I have left in the bosom of the beloved hinano
You look and see nothing but beauty in the forest
Thrilled with the beauty of the flower
The flowers I picked and strung with love for you

Answer, O Liliʻu to your name song
Beautiful is Kilauea screened by the mist
Heavy with fragrance is the top of Uwēkahuna
And the lehua bushes that creep on the lava bed are hidden out of sight

Chorus:
I did not see the big grove of Halaaniani
For it was hidden out of sight by the pelting rain
I was eager to have the Puʻulena breeze return again
That I may lovingly sleep in the moani breeze


Source: Hopkin's Aloha Collection - This mele was composed for Queen Liliʻuokalani. Haili was the name of a forest near Hilo, where birds gathered. 1st chorus, stanza 1, hīnano is the white flower of the hala tree and the words mean the queen is enjoying the peace and calm of her white husband, John Dominis. 2nd verse, stanza 3, Uēkahuna is a bluff and cliff at Kīlauea named to commemmorate one of Kahawali's priests. This priest challenged Pele after Kahawali's defeat in the holua sledding race. 2nd chorus, stanza 1, puʻulena (yellow heap) is a cold breeze at Kīlauea and a nuance of sadness; stanza 4, moani is a gentle breeze associated with fragrance. Translation by Mary Pukui, Hawaiian Text edited by Puakea Nogelmeier