Ke Ha`a Lâ Puna (Puna's A Dance) - Chant

 

Ke ha`a lä Puna i ka makani
Ha`a ka ulu hala i Kea`au
Ha`a Hâ`ena me Hôpoe
Ha`a ka wahine
`Ami (`oni) i kai o Nanahuki la
Hula le`a wale
I kai o Nanahuki
Hula le`a wale
I kai o Nanahuki
 
 
 
 
`O Puna kai kuwa i ka hala
Pa`êpa`ê ka leo o ke kai
Ke ulu la i nâ pua lehua
Nânâ i ka`i o Hôpoe e
Ka wahine ami (oni) i kai
O Nanahuki
Hula le`a wale
I kai o Nanahuki
Hula le`a wale
I kai o Nanahuki
Hula le`a wale
I kai o Nanahuki
 
 
Kahea: He inoa no Hi`iaka-i-ka-poli-o-Pele
Puna dances in the breeze
The hala groves of Kea`au join the dance
Hä`ena and Höpoe are swaying
The woman
Sways down by the sea of Nanahuki
A dance of joy
Down by the sea of Nanahuki
A dance of joy
Down by the sea of Nanahuki
 
 
 
 
The sea at Puna echoes through the hala
The voice of the sea swells
Spreading the lehua blossoms
Behold the revelry of Höpoe
The woman who sways by the sea
Of Nanahuki
A dance of joy
By the sea of Nanahuki
A dance of joy
By the sea of Nanahuki
A dance of joy
By the sea of Nanahuki
 
 
Call: In the name of Hi`iaka in the bosom of Pele

 

Source: Music of Ancient Hawaii by Dorothy Kahananui - Hi`iaka learned this chant and dance from Hôpoe, her best friend. Hôpoe was the pet name given by Hi`iaka to this friend whose real name was Nanahuki (when you look at me, my eyes draw you to me). Nanahuki is also a beach in Puna. Pele was envious of their friendship, as they spent much time together in Puna, a place beloved by Hi`iaka. In her wrath and jealously, Pele turned Hôpoe to stone in the sea at Kea`au. This stone was moved by the tidal wave of 1946. Some traditions say this is the hula Pele requested her sisters to dance when she was aroused from her sleep, after her spirit returned from Kaua`i. All the sisters refused except Hi`iaka, who lifted the kapu with this hula.