Hawai`i Pono`i

Written by King David Kalakaua
Music by Prof. Henry Berger, the Royal Bandmaster

Hawai`i pono`i Nana i kou, moi
Kalani Alii, ke Alii.
Makua lani e Kamehameha e
Na kaua e pale Me ka i he.


translation

Hawaii's own true sons, be loyal to your chief
Your country's liege and lord, the Alii.1
Father above us all, Kamehameha,2
Who guarded in the war with his ihe,3



1. Alii (ah-lee-ee) sovereign
2. Kamehameha (Kah-may'-ha-may'-ha) king who first unified the islands.
3. Ihe (ee-hay) spear

Official Song of the State of Hawaii.

Go back to US State Songs

Here is the full length version of the lyrics:

Hawai'i pono'ī
Nānā i kou mō'ī,
Ka lani ali'i,
Ke ali'i.

Makua lani ē,
Kamehameha ē,
Nā kāua e pale
Me ka ihe.

Hawai'i pono'ī
Nānā i nā ali'i,
Nā pua muli kou,
Nā pōki'i.

Hawai'i pono'ī,
E ka lāhui ē,
'O kāu hana nui
E ui ē.

English translation:

Hawai'i's own,
Look to your king,
The royal ruler,
The chief.

Royal father of the nation,
Kamehameha,
You defended us
With the spear.

Daughters and sons of Hawai'i,
Look to your chiefs,
To the children after you,
To the young.

Those true to Hawai'i,
The Hawaiian people,
Your great duty
Is to prevail.


Many thanks to Apatrix for helping me in making the macrons above many of the letters in the Hawai'ian lyrics. Without them, the translation would not have applied. I doubt the song would have meant much of anything.

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