Pua ʻĀhihi - Words by Mary Kawena Pukui, Music by Maddy Lam

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Me ʻoe ka ʻano`i e ka ʻāhihi
Ka lei milikaʻa a kaʻu aloha

He aloha makamae kai hiki mai
He ʻala honehone i ka puʻuwai

He waiwai ʻoe i kaʻu ʻike
Ua kehakeha i luna aʻo Lanihuli

Huli mai nō ʻoe ʻolu kāua
I mehana hoʻi au aʻi ko poli

Haʻina ka puana no kuʻu lei
Ka pua ʻāhihi aʻo Lanihuli



With you is my desire, o ʻāhihi
The lei caressed over and over by my love

It is a precious love, that comes to me
A fragrance teasing the heart

You are of great value in my sight
High above Lanihuli

Turn to me, let us comfort one another
Let me be warmed by your bosom

The story is told for my lei
The ʻāhihi blossom of Lanihuli

Source: Pamai Tenn Collection - Maddy Lam composed this song for Kahauanu Lake, as a gift to Maiki Aiu. This was first danced by April Peeples Chock and presented as a hoʻokupu to Maiki. She loved the mele and it became the signature song of her halau. This mele compares a sweetheart to the beautiful ʻāhihi blossom. The ʻāhihi, a low spreading shrub-like bush with a twisted trunk (Metrosiderous) is a form of lehua. Lanihuli is the peak west of the Nuʻuanu pali gap where the ʻāhihi grows profusely. Music clip by Tonya Ferris © 1964 Criterion Music Corp