Paniau - Words & music by Helen D. Beamer

Ua nani Paniau
I kaʻu ʻike
Ka waiho kāhelahela
I ka laʻi

Ahuwale ka moana Pākīpika
I kaulana i ka mālie
Nāna e hiʻipoi nei Hawaiʻi
Kuʻu one hānau

Ka iʻa e holoholo ana i ka nalu
Haʻi mai i ka hāpapa
Me ke kai pumehana hone i ke kino
He nanea mai hoʻi kau

Aia ma mua pono
ʻAu mai ana i ke kai
Kēlā kuahiwi nani o Maui
Haleakalā he inoa

Ia ʻoe e Kohala e pāhola nei
Mai uka a ke kai
ʻĀina hoʻohihi a ka wahine
ʻO ʻoe nō e ka ʻoi

Na ke ahi lau makani i hoʻopā mai
ʻIke ana au i ka nani
Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, Hualalai
Nā kiaʻi o ka home

Ka wai ʻauʻau o ka wahine
Aia i ka ʻolu
ʻO ke kiawe, ʻo ka milo, ʻo ke kou, ʻo ka hau
Me ka niu haʻa i ke one

Eia ka puana e lohe ʻia
Na Koʻolaniohakau
E mau ka maikaʻi me ke maluhia
Ua nani Paniau

 Beautiful is Paniau
In my sight
A panoramic expanse
In the calm

In plain view is the Pacific Ocean
Renowned for its calm
Cradling this Hawaiʻi
Sands of my birth

The fish run through the waves
Breaking on the reef
Warm seas softly caress the body
How very relaxing

Directly in front
Jutting out into the sea
That beautiful mountain of Maui
Haleakalā, her name

You, Kohala, spread out here
From uplands to the sea
Enchanted land of the lady
You are the best

A gentle breeze caresses
I see the beauty (of)
Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, Hualalai
Guardians of the home

A fresh water bathing spring for the lady
There in the cool shelter
Of the kiawe, the milo, the kou, the hau
And the dwarf coconut trees on the beach

Here is my song to be heard
For Koʻolaniohakau
May beauty and peace continue forever
Beautiful is Paniau

Source: Songs of Helen Desha Beamer - Composed for the beach home of Al & Annabelle Ruddle at Puakō, Hawai’i. © 1987 P.C. Beamer, Jr.