Kananaka

Kananaka - Traditional
ʻO ka pā mai a ka Maʻaʻa Halihali mai ana lā i ke ʻala Ke ʻala onaona o ka līpoa Hana ʻoe a kani pono Hui: Nani wale ia puʻe one I ka nalu heʻe mai aʻo Kananaka Kahi a mākou a e heʻe ai I ka ʻehuʻehu o ke kai ʻO ka mahina hiki aloalo Hoʻolaʻilaʻi ana lā i nā pali Pōhina wehiwehi i ke onaona Koni maʻeʻele i ke kino ʻO ka pā kōnane a ka mahina Hoʻolaʻilaʻi ana i ka pō laʻi Konikoni ana i ka ʻiwi hilo Koni ma’e’ele i ke kino	The Ma’a’a wind blows Bringing the scent The fragrance of līpoa Pick (līpoa) until we have enough Chorus: Beautiful are the sand dunes Kananaka surfs inland Where we also surf In the spray of the sea The moon rises Poised above the cliffs Moonbeams so alluring Thrilling the body The moon shines brightly Bringing peace to the darkness Thrilling one to the core of one's being Thrilling the body
Source: Kealiʻi Reichel CD - Kananaka was a mermaid who lived in the sea outside of Lahaina, Maui. This hula noho was usually taught to young girls beginning hula instructions. Laʻi refers to the peace that follows passion or the thrill of lovemaking. ʻIwi hilo is the thigh bone or last rib bone, meaning the very core of one's being in Hawaiian poetry. Maʻaʻa is the famous wind at Lahaina. It is believed that when a lot of foam is near the shoreline or the mouth of a stream, the mermaid is present. If the mermaid was in the loko (fishpond), fish could not be caught for food. They would be bitter and not good to eat. He Aloha Mele notes the Maui elders credit this mele to Kauhailikua, a court dancer for King Kalākaua. Translated by Kanani Mana