I Aliʻi No ʻOe (You Are A Chief) - Traditional

Click title to access melody

I aliʻi nō ʻoe i kanaka au lā
Malalo aku au aʻo ko leo lā

I noho aku au aʻi kuke nāu lā
I kuene hoʻi nā ko nui kino lā

He keu no ʻoe a ke aloha ʻole lā
I nēia mau maka ʻimo aku nei lā

Kō ʻike mai nō a he palupalu lā
A he ʻiwi haʻi wale ko ka ʻamakihi lā

ʻO ka pou kaena iho kēia lā
E ʻuiʻui nei ke kaula ʻili lā

Haʻina ʻia mai ana ka puana lā
I aliʻi nō oe i kanaka au lā



You are a chief, I am a commoner
Below you, I am obedient to your command

While you sit, I cook for you and
Wait on your big body

You are insincere, I've lost my love for you
Those eyes wink at someone else

I know your tenderness for another bird
This bird will break the bonds that bind

This is the mast that boasts of itself
The rope that squeaks

The story is told
You are a chief, I am a commoner


Source: Kamehameha Schools HSI
- Translator unknown, Music clip by Paina