Nani Wenusi - Words by Mary Pukui, music by Maddy K. Lam

 

He nani kou e Venuse
E kau haʻaheo nei
ʻOlinolino mai i luna
I ka maka o ka ʻōpua

He manaʻo hoʻohaliʻa
Hoʻonape ana i ka poli
I kau haʻi ana mai
Eia aʻe kuʻu huapala

Kuʻu hoa kuikui lima
O ka pō mahina laʻi kōnane
I ka nehe mai a ke kai
Hāwanawana i ke one

Pili ʻia me ke aloha
I ka ua nui me ka makani
Kamaʻia a paʻa pono
Ua kumu i ka puʻuwai

Haʻina mai ka puana
No ka nani O Venuse
ʻOlinolino mai i luna
I ka maka o ka ʻōpua

Beauty is yours, O Venus
Appearing proudly on high
Gleaming from on high
In the face of the cloudbank

A reminiscent thought
Makes my breath come faster
When you tell me
Here comes my sweetheart

My hand holding companion
Of the quiet moonlit night
When the sea rustles
Whispering on the sand

Together with love
In the great rain and the wind
Bound securely forever
Rooted in the heart

The story is told
Of the beauty of Venus
Gleaming from on high
In the face of the cloudbank

Source: - Written between 1955-56, Kahauanu Lake and his group were the first to record it on Maddy Lam's recording label (Island Recording Studio). The Polynesian navigator (hoʻokele) had no instruments and used the prevailing winds, the moods of the sea, and the sky, with the sun as the most important guide, to sail the vast ocean. They steered by the stars, the easiest form of navigation at night, and were very knowledgable about astronomy, memorizing at least 220 star patterns and their paths in the heavens (where they rise, and where they set). They were able to distinguish planets from stars by their movements and also used planets for guides once their positions were determined. Planets appear to move among the fixed stars and were called hoku hele (traveling stars), or hoku ʻae`a (wandering stars). The Hawaiians knew 5 planets: Mars - Hoku ʻula (red star); Venus - Hoku loa (great star); Jupiter - Kaʻawela - brilliant one; Mercury - Ukali, (Sun follower); Saturn - Makulu (dripping mist). Translated by Mary Pukui © 1981 Criterion Music Corp