Na Ui O Kauai

Nā Uʻi O Kauaʻi (Beauties of Kauaʻi) - Words by Claude Downey/Ida Malabey, Music by John Noble
Hoʻoheno me ka ua aʻo Hanalei A he ua loku ia A he ua loku ia Kaulana o ka ʻāina Ka ʻowē aka wai o Namolokama Ahe wai huʻihuʻi Ahe wai huʻihuʻi Ke pili mai i ka ʻili Alo aku i ke kula aʻo Hāʻena Nā hala o Naue Nā hala o Naue ʻOhuʻohu i luluʻu pali Hea mai ʻo Makana mehe ipo ʻala ʻIke i ke ahi lele ʻIke i ke ahi lele Hoʻohihi nā malihini Neʻe aku iho kula aʻo Mānā I ka wai liʻulā I ka wai liʻuā He hulali mai hoʻi kō ui Ke kani mai o ke one aʻo Nohili Me ka lī pahapaha, Me ka lī pahapaha Wehiwehi ʻoe Polihale Nani ʻoe Hāʻupu me ka ua noe aʻo Kōloa Hoʻo pulu ana ʻoe, Hoʻo pulu ana ʻoe I ka lau o ka palai Haʻina ka inoa ua lohe ʻia Kuʻu lei mokihana, Kuʻu lei mokihana Kaulana ʻoe Kauaʻi	Cherished, the rain of Hanalei Its the pouring rain Its the pouring rain Famous of the land Murmur of the water(fall) Namolokama Chilly water Chilly water When it touches the skin Facing the leeward plains of Hāʻena The pandanus trees of Naue The pandanus trees of Naue Laden with mist that bends them over the cliffs Makana is called the perfumed sweetheart See the fireballs See the fireballs That dazzle the visitors Creeping out to the plains of Mānā The water in the mirage The water in the mirage Glitters as we hurry towards it The sounding sands of Nohili With it’s distinct seaweed With it’s distinct seaweed That decorates you, Polihale Hāʻupu, you are beautiful, in the misty rain of Kōloa Drenching you Drenching you The leaves of the palai fern Tell the name, it is heard My mokihana lei My mokihana lei You are famous, Kauaʻi
Source: Noble’s Hawaiian Hulas, © 1935, 1963 Miller Music Corp - Verse 3, Naue (to move), a place near Hāʻena famous for the pandanus trees. Verse 4, firebrands were hurled from the top of Makana, called Fireworks Cliff, today. Verse 5, Limaloa, the god of mirages and tricks dwelt at Mānā. The sparkling waters caused mirages that are still visible today. Verse 6, Nohili, is known as Barking Sands. The old Hawaiians called it “ke one kani aʻo Nohili” or the sounding sands of Nohili. The dry weather causes a dull whoof sound when one steps on the sand. The distinctive seaweed is pahapaha, a sea lettuce thought to be found only at Polihale, that is made into nā lei. It is a honor it be presented with a pahapaha lei. Verse 7, Haʻupu (fond recollections), is the mountain peak/ridge that overlooks Nāwiliwili bay on one side and Kīpūkai on the other. It may have been named for Pōhaku-o-Kāne, the rock that tried to climb the cliff to find a resting place where he could observe nature. Unable to ascend the perpendicular cliff after many attempts, he was helped by Kāne. He promised to observe the birds and clouds of the sky, to feel the wind blow and the rains wash over him, to see plants, trees and flowers grow, and to watch the sea creatures glide in the ocean. All this he promised to observe, to remember, to recollect fondly, and to relate to Kāne when the god came again. Kōloa is the birthplace of Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole.