Kaʻuiki (Glimmer) - Words & music by Hakaleleponi Hulu


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He aloha no Kaʻuiki
ʻAu i ke kai me he manu ala

O ke ka aka ua koʻi aweawe
Me ke komo kaimana la i ka lima

O ke ani peahi a ka Unulau
E hoʻi e pili me ka ʻieʻie

O ke oho lau lena o ka awapuhi
Ua puni hoʻi au i kahi manu

O ka ʻalapahi mai i ka nahele
Ka hoehoene i mauna Laniuma

Hū mai koʻu aloha
Ka palai moe anu o ka nahele

Hele no ʻoe a ʻike lihi mai
Kaʻu koe kō maka la iʻa nei

Heaha kaʻu hala i paweo ai
A manawa ino ai nui kō nuku

Hoʻi mai kaua la ua lai
Ua kani ka piano huʻehuʻe song

Ua pau keia me ke aloha
Nāʻū na ka puhi ōlali o ka hema

Kuʻu lei kuʻu lei ia lā
He lei ʻānuenue piʻo i ka moana

Kuhi ana au o kuʻu lei ia
Lei ʻānuenue piʻo i ka moana

ʻO ke ahi kaulana `a`ā i ka nuku lā
ʻAʻā iā Kaʻuiki ʻaʻā i ke kai

Haʻina ʻia mai ka puana
He aloha no Kaʻuiki ʻau i ke kai




Love for Kaʻuiki
Reaching seaward like a bird

The rain in columns, moving in streams
Each drop like a sparkling diamond ring on the finger

The Unulau wind blows gently
The ʻieʻie vines beckon to return

The leaves of the ʻōlena ginger
Engulfed by rain, one bird stirs

The forest is deceiving
Singing softly to flowering mountain, Laniuma

My love swells
The fern rests in the cold forest

You must come for just a little while
My waiting here is to fulfill love

Why hesitate and turn away
Feelings are hurt waiting for entry

Return so we can be together and content
Repeating the rhythm, like the sound of the piano

That ends love
With a sigh, the inexperienced eel slips away

My wreath, it is my wreath
A wreath of rainbows arching over the sea

I thought it was my lei
A rainbow lei arching over the sea

The famous fire blazing at the rim
Blazing on Kaʻuiki, blazing over the sea

This is the end of my song
Of my love for Kaʻuiki reaching seaward


Source: Johnny Noble's Hawaiian Hula - This mele is dedicated to the lighthouse of Kaʻuiki in Hana, Maui. Verse 3, Unulau is the name of a Kauaʻi wind. Translated by Kanani Mana, © 1928 Jonny Noble, 56 Miller Music Corp. Music Clip by Gippy Cooke