Kuu Lei Pua Nani

Kuʻu Lei Pua Nani - John Almeida
Kuʻu ipo, kuʻu lei, kuʻu milimili Kuʻulei pua nani lei hoʻohie He aloha ʻoe ua hiʻipoi ʻia A he mea nui naʻu na ka mākua. He uʻi he nohea i kuʻu maka He aloha i pili ʻia i ka puʻuwai Ka maile lau liʻi lau onaona Ko wehi hoʻoheno ulumāhiehie. Hea aku mākou ō mai ʻoe Kuʻulei pua nani lei hoʻohie	My sweetheart, my lei, my caressable one Kuʻulei, a flower so beautiful, so flirtatious, so graceful. You are my beloved one, my cherished one You are so dear to me, your parent You are very pretty to the eyes, You are the love of my heart You are like the maile, so dainty and fragrant So lovely to see We call to her and she answers, “Yes,” Kuʻulei, like a beautiful flower, so flirtatious, so graceful
Source: R. Chong (nephew of Ku`ulei Clark) - John K. Almeida, the gifted blind composer and musician, composed this song in the, late 1950s for Kuʻulei Clarke, the hula instructor. Kuʻulei Clarke taught hula for so many years in the Aiea to Pearl City area on the island of Oʻahu. She even went as far as ʻEwa to hold classes. She started to teach hula about 1936, and has credited Keaka Kanahele, Joseph Ilalaole and John K. Almeida, as those who have instructed and encouraged her. The translation was given by the composer, John K. Almeida.