Pupu A O Ewa

Pūpū A O ʻEwa (Shells of `Ewa) - Traditional
Hui: Pūpū (aʻo ʻEwa) i ka nuʻa (nā kānaka) E naue mai (a e ʻike) I ka mea hou (o ka ʻāina) Ahe ʻāina (ua kaulana) Mai nā kūpuna mai Alahula Puʻuloa he ala hele nō Kaʻahupāhau, (Kaʻahupāhau) Alahula Puʻuloa he ala hele nō Kaʻahupāhau, Kaʻahupāhau Nani Kaʻala hemolele i ka mālie Kuahiwi kaulana aʻo ʻEwa E kiʻi ana i ka makani o ka ʻāina Hea ka Moaʻe eia au e ke aloha Kilakila ʻo Polea noho i ka ʻolu Ia home hoʻohihi a ka malihini E walea ana i ka ʻolu o ke kiawe I ka pā kolonahe a ke Kiu	Chorus Shells of ʻEwa throngs of people Coming to learn The news of the land A land famous From the ancient times All of Puʻuloa, the path trod upon byʻ Kaʻahupāhauʻ All of Pu`uloa, the path trod upon by Kaʻahupāhau Beautiful Kaʻala, sublime in the calm Famous mountain of ʻEwa That fetches the wind of the land The tradewind calls, "here I am, beloved" Majestic Polea in the coolness Home delightful to visitors Relaxing in the coolness of the kiawe And the soft blowing of the Kiu wind
Source: Nā Mele `O Hawaiʻi Nei by Elbert & Mahoe, Olowalu Massacre by Aubrey Janion - The news of the land was the discovery of pearl oysters at Puʻuloa, the Hawaiian name for Pearl Harbor, that was protected by Kaʻahupāhau, the shark goddess. Kaʻala is the highest mountain on Oʻahu and Polea is located in ʻEwa. Nuʻa and naue in the chorus is often interchanged with nuku (mouth) and lawe (bring). Moaʻe is the name of a tradewind. In 1909, the Navy issued a $1.7 million contract for construction of the first Pearl Harbor dry dock. Kapuna Kanakeawe, a Hawaiian fisherman, told the contractor to build it in another location as the spot they selected was the home of Kaʻahupāhau. Work stopped after 3 months as things kept going wrong. Cement would not pour and the contractor could not pump water out of the dry dock. February 17, 1913, 2 years behind schedule, opening ceremonies were held. Then it exploded. One man was killed, $4,000,000 lost and 4 years of work demolished. Another contract was issued in November, 1914. As work progressed, the early warning given by Kanakeawe was remembered. Mrs. Puahi, a kahuna, was called, and instructed the foreman, David Richards, in the necessary rituals to appease Kaʻahupāhau and safeguard the project. After sacrifices were made, prayers chanted and rituals performed, the project was declared safe. When the bottom was pumped out, the skeleton of a 14-foot shark was discovered. Pearl Harbor was also the site of ancient Hawaiian fishponds. © 1962 Criterion Music Corp