Lei Halawa - Traditional


Lei Hālawa i ka ua a ka Nāulu
Lei Kaʻuhuhu ike ʻala o ka līpoa
Lei Papākea i ka makani lawe ehu kai
Lei hoʻi ʻoe i ka ehuwai la o Moaʻula

Hui:
E ka makani houhou ʻili o ka ʻāina
O ka ʻāina, o ka ʻāina o ka pā kolonahe
Mai a ka Hau i ka po laʻi
ʻAʻole hewa he ʻolu ia
La ua hiki no

Lei Kaʻili i ka lau o ke kamani
Lanikāula hoʻi i ka lau o ka kukui
Lei Kūnapa i ka maile lau o naona
Lei hoʻi ʻoe ka ehu wai la Moaʻula

Lei Opele i ka ʻala o ka pikake
Hanakaulua hoʻi ka lau o ka palai
Lei Kapana i ke o naona awapuhi
Lei hoʻi ʻoe i ka ehu wai la o Moaʻula

Hālawa's wreath is the Nāulu rain
Ka'uhuhu's wreath has the fragrance of līpoa
Papākea`s wreath is the wind with white seaspray
You were wreathed with the spray of Moa'ula Falls

Chorus:
O skin piercing wind of the land
Of the land, of the land that gently blows
The Hau breeze stirs the fern
No flaw can be found here
All is peaceful, indeed.

Kaʻili's wreath is kamani leaves
Lanikāula comes with leaves of the kukui
Kūnapa's wreath has fragrant-leafed maile
You are wreathed with the spray of Moaʻula

Opele's wreath has the fragrance of jasmine
Hanakaulua comes with leaves of the fern
Kapana's wreath has the fragrance of ginger
You are wreathed with the spray of Moaʻula


Source: G. Cooke collection, from Edward Kaupu - This mele defines and names some of the winds on Molokaʻi. The Nāulu rain is a sudden shower. Kaʻuhuhu wind forms on the edge of a cliff, Papākea
wind has white sea spray, Hau is a cool dew laden breeze, Kaʻili is the snatching wind, Kūnapa wind is not steady, Opele is a billowing wind, Hanakaulua is a strong north wind, Kapana is the wind on the border. Moaʻula is the waterfall in Hālawa valley on Molokaʻi. Translator unknown