Kaʻauwila (Rapid Transit Hula) - by Martha K. Nani


O ke kaʻa Rapid Transit kaʻu aloha

I ka nome mālie i ka alahao

Hao ana e ka manaʻo ke kalaiwa
Ehuehu i ke kula loa o Kalihi

Ua laʻi ka helena me kuʻu aloha
Hone ana ka manaʻo i kuʻu poli

Hoʻolale mai ana a e huli hoʻi
E ʻike i ka nani o ke kapitala

Ka ihona o ke kula la o Kalihi
Pa ana ka makani poʻai hale

I laila wau i kīlohi iho ai
I ka nani uluwehi a o ke kaona

Kau nui aku hoʻi koʻu manaʻo
E ʻike i ka nani aʻo Manoa

I laila wau ai i ka iho ai
O ke alanui nani kikeʻekeʻe

O ka hana ana ia a kaʻauwila
He pakika he paheʻe ka ihona pali


It is the Rapid Transit that I love
Moving quietly over the rails

The driver puts on the power
Away we go over the distant plain to Kalihi

It was pleasant going along with my sweetheart
When a pleasant thought came into my mind

To turn about and go back
To see the beauty of the capital city

At the incline from the plain of Kalihi
Came a wind that rose among the houses

It was there that I caught a glimpse
Of the charming beauty of the city

Then I became determined
To see the beauty of Manoa

It was there that I saw
A beautiful street that wound crookedly

That is the way electricity works
We go slipping and sliding down the hill

Source: Sonny Cunha's Music Book, Copyright 1902 Bergstrom Music Co. Translation by Mary Pukui