Ke Ala Nui Liliha - Traditional
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E walea aʻe ana au I ka ʻolu kou haʻihaʻi O ke ala nui Liliha Iʻa home pua ʻōhai O ke kani a nā manu I ka pili anu ahiahi O he ana ke aloha me ka ipo Kuʻu aloha aʻe kēia ʻAkāhi au aha ʻike I ka wai aniani aʻe Lana a mālie nei I ka luna o Hauhau koʻi O ka noe a ka ua liʻiliʻi I ke kulukulu aumoe Mehe ala la eʻî mai ana Kāua pū i laila |
Boki and Kuini Liliha |
I am accustomed to (I am) Your recurring, vibrations O great Liliha road This home of the dwarf royal poinciana flower Sweet sound of the birds Huddled close in the chilly evening To be with the sweetheart This way, my love The first time I saw The clear, refreshing water Floating calmly Above Hauhau Of the misty little rain drops Night has passed swiftly It seemed say The two of us there, together |
Source: G.Cooke collection - Liliha Street
was named for Chiefess Kuini Liliha (1802-Aug.
25, 1839), daughter of Ulumaheihei
Hoapili & Kalilikauoha. A chiefess in the ancient Hawaiian tradition,
she was the wife of Boki Kamaʻuleʻule, governor of Oʻahu and granddaughter
of Kahekili ʻAhumanu, king of Maui and Oʻahu. Boki and Liliha were
members of the entourage that accompanied Kamehameha II and Queen Kamehamalu
on a diplomatic tour of the United Kingdom, visiting King George III
in 1824. The entire delegation contracted measles on the trip, resulting
in the deaths of King Kamehameha II, Queen Kamehamalu and five chiefs.
Boki and Liliha survived the measles and returned to Hawaiʻi with what
was left of the delegation. Boki incurred large debts and the high
chiefs agreed the government was not responsible for debts accummulated
by Boki and Liliha. Boki attempted to cover their debts by traveling
to the New Hebrides to harvest sandalwood. Before departing, he entrusted
the administration of Oʻahu, the legal guardianship and sole trusteeship
of Kamehameha III and his properties to his wife, Liliha. This was
opposed by Kaʻahumanu, the queen regent, and caused a rift between
Liliha and Kaʻahumanu. Boki and his entourage of chiefs were lost at
sea in 1829, leaving Liliha permanently in charge of the administration
of Oʻahu. She served as governor of Oʻahu from 1829 to1831. After the
disappearance of her husband, Liliha became embroiled in the dispute
over freedom of religion in the kingdom. Boki and Liliha
were among the first chiefs to convert
to the suppressed Catholic Church. This angered the queen regent,
who was baptized into the Congregational church and wanted all
chiefs
to accept
Protestantism. Kaʻahumanu influenced Kamehameha III to ban
the Roman Catholic Church from the islands and forcibly deport
the
priests
and lay brothers
of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
Native Hawaiians who converted to Catholicism were persecuted,
beaten
and imprisoned.
When Kaʻahumanu realized the converts were steadfast and
persevered, even in
suppression, she stripped Liliha of her power. The intervention
of the French government, Captain Cyrille Pierre Théodore
Laplace and Kamehameha III's proclamation of the "Edict
of Toleration" finally allowed native Hawaiians the right
of membership in the Catholic Church. It is believed Liliha died
of poison, mixed in her liquor bottle, by a relative. Beloved
by the common people, there was great lamentation at the news
of her death. translated
by Kanani Mana |