Kō Maʻi Hōʻeuʻeu (Your Lively Maʻi) - Mele Maʻi

 
Kō ma`i hōʻeuʻeu
Hōʻeke pue ana ʻoe
Hōʻike i ka mea nui
O Hālala i ka nuku manu
 
ʻO ka hana ia o Hālala
Ka hapapai kīkala
Aʻe a ka lawe aʻe ʻoe
A i pono iho o Hālala 
 
Kō maʻi hoʻolalahū
I kai ʻale pūnana mele
ʻO ka hope ʻoi iho ai
A i pehu ai kō nuku 
 
Ua pā kīʻaha paha
Ke noenoe mai nei
Haʻina mai ka puana
ʻO Hālala i ka nuku manu
  

 

 

King David Kalākaua

 

  

Your lively maʻi
That you are hiding
Show the big thing
Hālala to the many birds 
 
What Hālala does
Raise the hips
And take you
Right below Hālala 
 
Your maʻi swells
Sea swells a nest of songs
And finally
Your swollen mouth 
 
Take a drink perhaps
Foggy then
Tell the refrain
Hālala and the many birds
  

Source: Na Mele o Hawaiʻi Nei by Elbert & Mahoe - The mele maʻi was composed in praise of the sexual prowess and genitals of a person. Continuity of the Hawaiian race was essential, as expressed in King Kalākaua's motto "Hoʻoulu Lahui" or "Increase the Race". This mele maʻi in honor of King Kalākaua gives him the name Halala, meaning overly large