Serp's song of the day: Aloha 'oe

Aloha 'oe
Written by Queen Liliuokalani

Aloha 'oe

Ha`aheo ka ua i nä pali
Ke nihi a`e la i ka nahele
E hahai (uhai) ana paha i ka liko
Pua `ähihi lehua o uka

Hui:
Aloha `oe, aloha `oe
E ke onaona noho i ka lipo
One fond embrace,
A ho`i a`e au
Until we meet again


`O ka hali`a aloha i hiki mai
Ke hone a`e nei i
Ku`u manawa
`O `oe nö ka`u ipo aloha
A loko e hana nei


Maopopo ku`u `ike i ka nani
Nä pua rose o Maunawili
I laila hia`ia nä manu
Miki`ala i ka nani o ka lipo


English Translation:

Proudly swept the rain by the cliffs
As it glided through the trees
Still following ever the bud
The `ahihi lehua of the vale

Chorus:
Farewell to you, farewell to you
The charming one who dwells in the shaded bowers
One fond embrace,
'Ere I depart
Until we meet again

Sweet memories come back to me
Bringing fresh remembrances
Of the past
Dearest one, yes, you are mine own
From you, true love shall never depart

I have seen and watched your loveliness
The sweet rose of Maunawili
And 'tis there the birds of love dwell
And sip the honey from your lips

Aloha 'oe

now back to work

I was in fifth grade in Michigan and our teacher was in her first year and from the big island. She was homesick so she taught the entire class to sing this in the native Hawaiian while she strummed along on her ukelele. I had not thought of this song in decades! Thanks! (She even taught us to eat poi.)