Niu Haohao (Young Coconut) - words & music by Bina Mossman
Click Title to Access Melody         Na wai, na wai nō ʻoe Aʻe pakele aku pakele aku I ka wai, i ka wai o ka niu O ka niu haohao (niu haohao) He maʻū maʻū maʻūi ka puʻu ke moni Kāohi kāohi mālie aʻe i ke ke leo   Hui: He pakika he pakika He paheʻe he paheʻe He pakika i kahi wai o ka ʻāina nui He pakika he pakika He paheʻe he paheʻe He pakika i kahi wai o ka ʻāina nui	Bina Mossman	Who can escape you, who can help Longing for you, longing for you The water, the water of a coconut A young coconut, young coconut Refreshing to the throat when swallowed And gently pressing on the uvula   Chorus: It slips and slips And slides and slides It slips the water of this great land It slips and slips And slides and slides It slips the water of this great land
Source: - There were coconut trees in the backyard of the composer's home in Kalihi. One day in 1924, she recalled how fond she was of the young coconut meat and was inspired to write this song. Old Hawaiians believed the coconut tree was the kinolau of Kū and contained his mana. Deeply rooted in the earth, an Oʻahu legend says the Niu tree was planted by the early voyaging chief Pōkaʻi in the Waiʻanae region now known as Pōkaʻi Bay. There were 2 varieties in ancient Hawaiʻi. The niu hiwa with its dark green husk and black shell was kapu to women and used by men for ceremonial and medicinal purposes. The young coconut, "niu hiwa a Kāne" was used by the priests in divination. The niu lelo with its reddish yellow husk and brown shell was kapu to women as food, but they could use the fronds, trunks and other parts of the tree. The Hawaiians had names to indicate the distinct stages of the flesh of the coconut. 1) ʻŌʻio flesh has a jelly like consistency. 2) Haohao flesh is soft and white and the shell is still white. 3)ʻIli kole or ʻili ʻole flesh is half ripe. 4) Niu oʻo flesh is fully mature and the husk is dry. 5) Niu ʻakaʻa or ʻokaʻa is when the flesh separates easily from the shell and there is no water. This is the stage used for manoʻi or coconut oil. Edited by Dr. Barbara Price © Criterion Music Corp. Music clip by Gippy Cooke