I ka Wā U‘i

J. R. Kaha‘i Topolinski

Composed for his wife Anne on her 60th birthday, this mele clearly demonstrates the never-fading, ever-captivating nature of the one and only true love of the poet’s life. 

Maika‘i ke ‘ala ohi kau i ka wena
Lei wāwena Poli‘ahu ‘ala lua i ka poli
Hui ‘ia ke lei pili me ke onaona
He lei palena ‘ole nou e Kamamo

Hui:
Ho‘okahi nō ‘ano‘i o ka wā u‘i
Ku‘u u‘i hiwahiwa a Kākuhihewa

Ke māpu nei ke ‘ala o ka maile
E moani nei i ke alo a‘o Ko‘iahi
Ahi ala i wili pū ‘ia me ka tuberose
Lei aloha pāpahi nou e Kaha‘i

Kilohana i ke kapa pua lau milo
Hamo ka sweet wai ‘ala i ku‘u piko
E noho ai me ku‘u lei o Kahalelaukoa
I ka ua ‘ala loku i ka lau lama

I ka hō‘ohu ‘ana mai o Leilehua
Halehale ke ‘ala o ka laua‘e
Hā‘awi manawale‘a no ke ano ahiahi
I mau ai ke ko‘i‘i koi a loko

He pōlena pa‘a ‘ia iho ke aloha
Pili pū ke ‘ala ‘ahu i ku‘u kino
Puana ke aloha no ku‘u wehi
‘O Kamamoakūali‘i ku‘u lei u‘i

The memory of youthful romance is awakened, sheathed in the rosy glow
Royal adornment caressing the bosom doubled in fragrance
Garland fashioned with a sweetness most alluring
Boundless, without limit, is my love for you, dear Kamamo

Chorus:
You are the first and only love of my youth
My elegant beauty, cherished descendant of Kākuhihewa

The essence of maile floats, carried by the breeze
A wind-blown remembrance of Ko‘iahi
The glow of passion becomes one with the lasting scent of tuberos
Love is worn like a wreath for you, Kaha‘i

Finely made is the kapa of many milo blossoms
Anointed, besmeared in the sweet scent of love
Let me love you my wreath of greens in the shelter of the forest
As the sweet rain pours over the design on the Ni‘ihau mat

When the mist of Leilehua alighted
Intense was the fragrance of laua‘e, afloat
In the evening hour of pleasure
Intense is the passion surging through my entire body

Our love is fastened tightly together
A lingering perfume that stirs the heart
Respond my beloved one of ethereal beauty
O Kamamoakūali‘i, the true love of my youth.

© J. R. Kaha‘i Topolinski 2005