Na Alii (The Chiefs) - by Samuel Kuahiwi
Aloha nâ `ahahui o nâ ali`i
Nâ ali`i mai nâ kûpuna mai
E pa`a i nâ `ôlelo kaulana
E hele a moe i ke ala
Hû wale a`e nâ ho`omana`o `ana
Nô nâ ali`i kaulana
Ua pau, ua hala lâkou
A koe nô nâ pua
Ua pau, ua hala lâkou
A koe nô nâ pua

E lei i ka lei ha`aheo o Hawai`i
Ka wehi ho`i o nâ ali`i i hala
E pa`a ka mana`o me ka lôkahi
E mau ke ea o ka `âina i ka pono

He ali`i `o ka lani, ua kaulana
Ka Napoliona o ka Pâkîpika
E lei i ka wehi ha`aheo o Hawai`i
Nâ hulu mamo like `ole
E lei i ka wehi ha`aheo o Hawai`i
Nâ hulu mamo like `ole

`Imi nui `o Maleka a lôli`i
Ka wehi ho`i o nâ ali`i i hala
`A`ole nô na`e e like aku
Me ka mea no`eau ke kupuna

He ali`i `o ka lani ua kaulana
Ke `ahi kananâ o ka Pâkîpika
Nânâ nô i ulupâ nâ pae moku
A pau malalo ona
Nânâ nô i ulupâ n pae moku
A pau malalo ona
 
 
Hail societies of chieftains
Chieftains from our ancestors
Remember the famous saying
Go and sleep upon the byways
 
Memories come
Of the famous chiefs
They are gone, they have passed
And their flowers survive
They are gone, they have passed
And their flowers survive
 
Wear the cherished leis of Hawaii
Adornment of departed chiefs
May all unite in recalling
The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness
 
Royal chief, famous
Napoleon of the Pacific
Wear the cherished adornments of Hawaii
The mamo feather leis
Wear the cherished adornments of Hawaii
The mamo feather leis
 
America seeks our welfare
The adornment of departed chiefs
Not the same
As the ancestors' wisdom

Chief royal and famous
Fierce tuna of the Pacific
When he struck the island group
All were subdued
When he struck the island group
All were subdued

 

Source: Nâ Mele o Hawai`i Nei by Elbert & Mahoe. This song, an expression of love and respect for our Hawaiian heritage, especially honors the departed chiefs. The 2nd verse incorporates the 1843 statement of Kamehameha III given at Kawaiaha`o Church, the motto of Hawai`i