ʻAnoʻai - Traditional

ʻAnoʻai kuʻu wehi lā
I ka ua Kanilehua

Pua nani ka lehua lā
No Hilo Hanakahi

Aʻo kuʻu ipo ia lā
I ke kai aʻo Mokuola

Kui ʻia me ke ʻala lā
O nā hala aʻo Puna

Haʻina kuʻu wehi lā
I ka ua Kanilehua

Greetings to my love
In the Kanilehua rain

Beautiful is the lehua blossom
Of Hilo Hanakahi.

My sweetheart is
In the sea of Mokuola.

Intermingled with the fragrance
Of the hala of Puna.

Tell of my love
In the Kanilehua rain

Source: Hiona collection - This ancient chant set to music, honors Hanakahi (deeds-done-in-unison), an ancient peace-loving chief who ruled the Hilo district. Wehi, an adornment is a sweetheart and Kanilehua (rain that sings upon the lehua) is the name of the Hilo rain. The red ʻohiʻa lehua is the symbol of the island of Hawaiʻi. Mokuola or Island of Life, is in Hilo Bay. Legend says, if one swam around Mokuola 3 times, health would be gained. Umbilical cords of babies were deposited there to insure a healthy life. Puna was famous for its hala (pandanus) and the natives of the area were skillful weavers of the leaves. Translation by Kaiu Kanoa. Hawaiian Text edited by Puakea Nogelmeier