Lei O Hāʻena - Helen Desha Beamer |
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Noho ana i ka uluwehiwehi |
Nestling in lush beauty In a wooded grove over spread with soft sweet fragrance Throngs gather Like beautiful feathered birds This is the home of Lei o Hāʻena Chorus: You are flower For the rain Kanilehua To nurture to full bloom at Hāʻena The grove is perfumed by your fragrance The birds gather here Keaʻau’s hala grove dances in the wind Thunder roll surf where Lāʻiekawai bathes Hāʻena and Hōpoe Sway in the sea This is the home of Lei o Hāʻena Where are you handsome one Close friend of the celebrated bloom Precious, beautiful flower Moistened and freshened At the lehua fringed pool O answer, Lei of Hāʻena |
| Source: Barbara Andersen - This composition honors Hāʻena, the home of Herbert Shipman. He raised orchids and nene there, both alluded to in the mele. Verse 2, stanza 2, Kanikaʻa is the wave that Princess Lāʻiekawai surfed. Verse 2, stanza 3, Hāʻena and Hōpoe were hula dancers that lived at Keaʻau. Verse 3, stanza 5, Waikoʻolihilihi is the name of the fresh water pond bordering the historic Shipman estate. Barbara Andersen is the great-grand niece of Herbert Shipman and the proprietor of "Shipman House Bed & Breakfast" in Hilo, recommended by Conde Nast Johansen. For reservations phone 800-627-8447. Copyright 1991, M. Ka’aihue | |