ʻŌiwi E - Words by John Keola Lake

ʻŌiwi e
ʻŌiwi e kāhea ana iwi e
Ua ʻike mai nei
Ua ʻike mai nei kuʻu one hānau e

Eia mai la
Eia mai la nā kupa ʻāina o Hawaiʻi nei
Kākoʻo mai nei
Kākoʻo mai nei kūpaʻa lōkahi e

Kīkilo e nā iwi
Kīkilo e nā iwi e nā mamo e
Nā kini makamaka e
Kūpaʻa ke kanaka
Kūpaʻa ke kanaka hanohano haʻaheo e
Kū ke kanaka
Kūpaʻa ke kanaka hanohano haʻaheo e

Natives
Natives the bones (ancestors) are calling
I know
I know my home land

Behold
Behold the natives of Hawaiʻi
Support
Support and be loyal faithfully

Look to the distant future
Look to the distant future, oh descendants
The multitudes of friends
Humanity stands firm
Humanity stands firm and proud
Humanity stands
Humanity stands firm and proud.

Source: Kuuleilani Reyes - When Kumu Hula John Keola Lake travelled to Aotearoa (New Zealand), he was inspired by the Maori (natives) there, so he wrote a mele based on the Maori song Nga Iwi E. ʻŌiwi E is not a translation of Nga Iwi E, but the sentiments are similar. ʻŌiwi E is about the natives standing proud together and looking towards their ancestors for guidance and direction. Ttranslation by Kuuleilani Reyes.