ʻEleu Mikimiki (Step Lively) - by Charles E. King

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Kāu hana mau nō ia
ʻO ka milimili ʻapa
Hala ʻē ka wā kūpono
ʻO ka milimili ʻapa
Hala ʻē ka wā kūpono

Hui:
E kala nō ʻoe a
I aʻo mua ʻia ai
Na ka ʻeleu mikimiki
Nāna ē ka lawe lilo
Na ka ʻeleu mikimiki
Nāna ē ka lawe lilo

ʻAʻole nō a he lua
A e like ai me ʻoe
Ma ka hoʻohemahema
A e like ai me ʻoe
Ma ka hoʻohemahema

Kāpae ka hilahila
E wake up mai hoʻi ʻoe
A laila ʻaka ʻoe
No ka mea ʻo ʻoe ka best
A laila ʻaka ʻoe
No ka mea ʻo ʻoe ka best

Ua ʻike maka nō ʻoe
I ka nani lua ʻole
O ka lei hulu mamo
I ka nani lua ʻole
O ka lei hulu mamo

ʻO ka puana kāu
E hoʻolohe mai
Na ka ʻeleu mikimiki
Nāna ē ka lawe lilo
Na ka ʻeleu mikimiki
Nāna ē ka lawe lilo
That is always your way
To be so slow
And let opportune time go
To be so slow
And let opportune time go

Chorus:
You were told
A long time ago
That it is the lively one, the one on the spot
That takes the prize
That it is the lively one, the one on the spot
That takes the prize

There's no other one
Just like you
In being negligent
Just like you
In being negligent

Set aside your bashfulness
And wake up
Then you will laugh
Because you are the best
Then you will laugh
Because you are the best

You have seen for yourself
The incomparable beauty
Of the lei of mamo feathers
The incomparable beauty
Of the lei of mamo feathers

This is the conclusion
That you must listen
That it is the lively one, the one on the spot
That takes the prize.
That it is the lively one, the one on the spot
That takes the prize


Source: Translation by Mary Pukui, Hawaiian Text edited by Puakea Nogelmeier. Music clip by Lani Lee © 1930, 1943 by Charles E. King.