ʻĀlika (Arctic) - Words & music by Charles Kaʻapa

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Aia i ʻĀlika
Ka ihu o ka moku
Ua hao a paʻihi
peʻa i ka makani

Ke liolio nei
Ke kaula likini
ʻAluʻalu ʻole iho
Nā peʻa i ka makani

ʻAʻole i kau pono
Ka newa i ka piko
Kaʻa ʻē ka huila
E niniu i ka makani

Ke kau aʻe nei
Ka ihu o Macao
Ke iho aʻe nei
E komo ʻĀkia

Me ke kai Melemele
Ke kōā o Pēlina
Nani wale ka ʻikena
Nā pua i Sārona

I noho ka ihu
I ka piko i Hīmela
Ka hale lau pāma
Hoʻomaha i ke kula

Haʻina ʻia mai
Ana ka puana
Aia i ʻĀlika
Ka ihu o ka moku

 

There in the Arctic
The prow of the ship
Set firmly
Sails in the wind

Taut
Rigging lines
Not slack
Sails in the wind

Not fixed
The needle in the north
The wheel turns
Spinning in the wind

Placed
The prow of the Macao
Down
To go to Asia

The Yellow Sea
Bering Straits
A lovely view
Flowers of Sharon

The prow sets
Towards the Himalaya summit
A palm leafed house
For rest on the plains

Tell
The refrain
There in the Arctic
The prow of the ship


Source: Na Mele ʻo Hawaiʻi Nei by Elbert & Mahoe - Sam Kamakau records the ship Arctic as landing in Kauaʻi between 1787 and 1792. This song with place names has risque kaona (double meaning or veiled language in Hawaiian poetry). Translator unknown. Hawaiian Text edited by Puakea Nogelmeier. Music clip by Gippy Cooke