Pānini Pua Kea (White Flowered Cactus) - Words & Music by John K. Almeida


ʻAuhea iho nei o Lei aloha?
Kuʻu hoa i ka nani aʻo nā pua
 
Eia mai au ʻo suipa lilo
Ka ipo i ke aka pua aniani
 
He aniani wale ʻo hāliʻa loko
Nowelo mao ʻole i ka puʻuwai

Nā wai nō ʻoe e a pakele aku
I ka wai o ka pānini pua kea

Haʻina ʻia mai ana ka puana
Kuʻu ipo i ka nani aʻo nā pua

Where has Leialoha gone?
My companion amid the beautiful flowers

Here am I, "Sweep-all-to-myself"
Your sweetheart in the shadow of fair flowers

Well known is my heart's turmoil
As love stirs ceaselessly in my heart

How can you escape its influence
After tasting the honey of the white flowered cactus

This is the end of my song
Of my sweetheart among the beautiful flowers

Source: Nā Mele Aloha, Translated by Mary Pukui - The many beautiful songs this blind composer wrote were inspired by the many beautiful women he knew