Koaʻe (Tropic Bird) - Words by Mary Pukui, Music by Maddy Lam

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E koaʻe e, e koaʻe e
Noho mai ʻoe i ke alo pali e
Kīkaha e, kīkaha
Hiehie ʻoe i kaʻu ʻike e

I ke kai e, i ke kai e
I laila kāu iʻa e kiʻi ai e
Hoʻi mai e, hoʻi mai
Me kahi iʻa paʻa i ka nuku e

Ko hulu e, ko hulu e
Hanohano wale i ke kāhili e
He nani e, he nani
Mahalo ʻia e ka lehulehu

I luna e o ka pali e
Kau mai ko pūnana e
I laila e, i laila
Ko mau pūnua aloha

Haʻina e, haʻina
Ka inoa kuʻu manu koaʻe e
Kīkaha e, kīkaha
Hiehie ʻoe i kaʻu ʻike e




Tropic bird, tropic bird
You live on the face of the cliff
Soar, soar
You are elegant to my sight

In the sea, in the sea
There your fish is caught
Return, return
With some fish held in the beak

Your feathers, your feathers
Very distinguished in the feather standard
Lovely, lovely
Admired by the people

Above the cliff
Your nest is located
There, there
Your beloved fledgings

Tell, tell
The name of my tropic bird
Soar, soar
You are elegant to my sight


Source: Pamai Tenn collection, © 1957 Criterion Music Corp, Music clip by Gippy Cooke