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E Aha ‘ia ana e Maunawili
A. ‘Ahiki Smith
This mele was composed for the Ka‘iama family, long-time residents of Maunawili Valley, O‘ahu. It was composed in particular for Edward and Ella Ka‘iama’s daughter Kahuluaiokalani. He waiwai nui ‘o Kahulu ma muli o kona ‘ano lokomaika‘i a kūpa‘a. Nona nō ho‘i hā ka ‘ōlelo noʻeau ‘o “Kū i ka welo.” Kahulu is a treasure to her parents because of her loyal and kind-hearted nature. For her, indeed, is the proverbial saying: “One whose behavior reflects the character of her family.”
E aha ‘ia ana e Maunawili
‘O ka ho‘owili ‘ana i ka pu‘uwai.
He waiwai nui ‘oe, kū i ka welo
Ka ‘uhene a ka wai i ka ‘ili‘ili.
Ho‘oili Wai‘ahulu i lei pāwehe
E pili mau ai ka hanu i ka nani.
Nani nō ho‘i ua ‘ae ‘o Mākālei
E kani ‘ū ana ‘o Kahinihini.
He hilina‘i kēia i ka mōkila ‘ula
I ka lā‘au pi‘i ona a ka i‘a.
Ha‘ina ka puana e lohe ‘ia
‘O ka ho‘owili ‘ana i ka pu‘uwai.
What is going on, Maunawili
This stirring of the heart?
You are a treasure, a tribute to your family
The laughter of water on stones.
Wai‘ahulu has bequeathed a lei pāwehe
Whose beauty always takes the breath away.
Because Mākālei has agreed
Kahinihini sighs with happiness.
This is an expression of trust in the red lei needle
In the branch that fish cannot resist.
Tell the summary that it may be heard
This stirring of the heart.
© A. ʻĀhiki Smith, 2004
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photo credit: Joe Bear Carini/HMI Collection
Bernice Kahuluaiokalani Ka‘iama ma ka ho‘okūkū hula ‘o Mō‘ī Le‘ale‘a, M.H. 1987. He lei hiwahiwa ‘o ia na ka makua, a he lei ‘ā‘ī hulu melemele no ke kupuna.