Hula - Words by Mary Pukui, music by Noelani Mahoe

 
Makemake nō anei ʻoe
E aʻo i nei mea a he hula
Me ka noʻeau a mikimiki `oi
Ka hula ana a ka Hawaʻ`i

Penei aʻe kuhi ai
Hana nō a ʻolu nā lima
Ke kiʻina maikaʻi a ka wāwae
E kohukohu pono iho ai

E ho`onaaue mālie aʻe
I ko kīkala a lewa
Huli ʻākau a hoʻi ka hema
He "good fun" mai hoʻi kau!

Kāmau mai e ka ʻuwehe
I ka hela ma ke kāholo
Kaʻapuni aʻe kāua a puni
O ka "round-the-island" mai kēia

Haʻina mai ana ka puana
No ka hula kaulana o Hawaiʻi
Huli ʻākau a hoʻi i ka hema
He "good fun" mai keia!

 

Mary Pukui
 
 
 
Noelani Mahoe
Do you wish to learn
This thing called the hula?
With neatness and nicety
Is the hula of Hawai'i done

This is the way to gesture
Make your hands move gracefully
Then step along nicely
To make them coordinate

Move quietly
Your hips in a gentle sway
Swing right then swing left
This is really good fun

Then add the `uwehe step
The hela next and the kāholo
Let us go all around
This step is the "round-the-island"

This ends my song
Of Hawai'i's famous dance
Swing right, then swing left
This is really good fun!

 

Source: Noelani Mahoe CD "Eia Au 'O Noelani". This poem was written in April, 1951, and given to Noelani by Pat Namaka Bacon, Mary Kawena Pukui's hanai daughter. Noelani set it to music for the Year of the Hawaiian, 1987. © 1995, Tradewind Records, PO Box 37624, Honolulu HI 96837.