Kuʻu Manu Hiwa (My Beloved, Dark Feathered Bird) - Kuʻualoha Meyer & Kealiʻi Blaisdell


ʻAuhea wale ʻoe kuʻu ipo
Kuʻu manu hiwa hoʻoheno i ka poli
Hoʻopeʻe i ta palai lanipō
Maʻiuʻiu i ta ua Kanilehua
ʻAuhea hoʻi la auhea hoʻi la

Maʻaliʻi ke aloha pili no kāua
He mea poʻina ʻole no naʻu
He lei no kuʻu kino
He lei no nā kau a kau

Kāua e nanea hoʻohiaʻaʻai
I la ua Tuahine o Mānoa
Hia a wela i ta ʻohu
Ninipo i ta ʻōmea hiluhilu

ʻO ʻoe i kuʻu manu hiwahiwa
ʻO ʻoe ka mea pili i kuʻu poli
Akahi nō au e ʻike i kou nani
Ua lilo au i kou māhiehie

Pulawa i ka hauaʻiliki
Ka ua ʻawa e nakulu mai
Hāʻiliʻili ka pūʻā manu ʻai au
Unuunu kou hulu nemonemo

Haʻina ʻia mai ana ka puana
Aualipo au i kuʻu manu hiwa
Inu i ka wai liʻula
E ho`i mai nei a pili

Puana kuʻu mele aloha
Aloha no kuʻu manu hiwahiwa
Mai na ʻiʻike mai, haʻino wale mai
ʻO ʻoe no i hoʻoheno i kuʻu poli


Listen, my sweetheart
My prized bird cherished in my heart
Hiding in the deep forest
Far away in the Kanilehua rain
Where are you, where indeed!

The affection between us has cooled
(But) you are still not forgotten to me
An adornment for my body
An adornment for all seasons

The two of us relaxing, delighted
In the Tuahine rain of Mānoa
Ardent passion in the mist
Yearning for, desiring the revered one

You are my beloved, cherished bird
You are the one close to my heart
The first time I saw your beauty
I was taken by your handsome appearance

The foggy, intense coldness
The bitter rain dripping forth
Jealous is the covetous flock
Singed are your sleak feathers

This is my story
Overcome with emotion for my cherished bird
Sip from the mirage
Return to join together as one

Thus ends my song of affection
Love for my beloved, prized bird
Don’t refuse, don’t be cruel
It is you indeed who is cherished in my heart


Source: Kealiʻi Blaisdell CD - Written for the composer’s beloved during a difficult time in their relationship. Kanilehua is the misty rain of Hilo, hometown of the beloved. Tuahine is the gentle rain of Mānoa where they spent much time together. Rain, mist, and fog are sometimes used to represent various emotions in songs. These nature symbols are called kaona or the hidden meaning