Māhukona - M. Smith

Ma waho au aʻo Māhukona lā ʻeā
Hana ʻiʻo ka ua iā Kohala lā

A laʻa wale nō ka hoʻi lā ʻeā
Ka huila a ʻo Kīlauea lā

I ʻalawa iho au ma hope lā ʻeā
Ka ninui poahi a ka huila hao lā

Hele kapalulu nei ʻiliwai lā ʻeā
A komo i ka imu hoʻomo`a lā

ʻO ka moʻa paha ʻia ʻo ke ko lā ʻeā
Ke pipiʻi nei ma ke aniani lā

Haʻina ʻia mai ka puana lā ʻeā
Ka huila a ʻo Kīlauea lā

I arrived outside of Māhukona
The rain was heavy in Kohala

I came by way of the steamer
Kīlauea, with its wheels turning

I glanced back
The wheels of the boiler room were turning

A buzzing sound from the waterhose
As it entered the oven

Sugar may have been cooked this way
The steam fogs the glass

The story is told
The wheels of the Kīlauea were turning


Source: Hines Collection - Māhukona was a port used primarily by Kohala Sugar Plantation to export its products. The Kīlauea was an interisland steamer from the time of Kamehameha V. This mele tells the story of disappointment in love. In the 1st verse, the rain refers to someone truly in love, but now this pleasure has turned to pain. Kohala (ko is to draw and hala to the point of no return) means that the lover has been drawn away. The writer compares himself to the paddle wheel of the steamer. In the 4th verse he sings of love that has run its course. Ko is sugarcane but also means something that is drawn out and has come to an end. In this song, love has run it course.