Samuela

HE KANIKAU NO KĪLAUEA, KAʻIWIʻULA, KEPOLA, SAMUELA.
A dirge for Kīlauea, Kaʻiwiʻula, Kepola, Samuel.

Aloha ka laʻi o Kona i ka holu a ke Kēhau
Adored is the calm of Kona, swaying in the Kēhau breeze

Aloha ka lae o Hanamalo ‘au ana i ke kai
Beloved Hanamalo point, thrusting out to sea

Aloha ka Mauna kahi a ke au e hoʻoipo nei
Treasured is the Mauna where the currents romance each other

Aloha ka laʻi o Mahana, hone i ka poli
Revered is the peace of Mahana, nuzzling in the bosom

Aloha nā Hōkūʻewalu i ka wai ʻoli o ka pūkini
Beloved is Hōkūʻewalu in the abundant springs of joyous waters  

Aloha Ahulae i ka holo a ka lio
Regards to Ahulae, where horses run

Aloha Kūʻula i ka laʻi o Hanakai
Beloved Kūʻula in the calm of the Hanakai sea

Aloha Hinahele e pupue nei i ke anu
Cherished Hinahele, huddled up in the cold

Aloha ka iʻa kākā pahi o Kapulau
Beloved is the sword striking fish of Kapulau

Aloha ka piʻina wela o Lokoʻula
Fond memories of the hot ascent at Lokoʻula

A me ka ihona ʻolu o Kalipo
And the cool descent of Kalipo

Hoʻolilo ke aloha hikikiʻi lua i ke kula ʻo Haleʻula
Affections are expanded across the plains of Haleʻula

E ulu aʻe ana i ka waimaka, ʻaʻohe e paʻa
Bringing about tears, not to be withheld

Aloha Puʻukani i ka malu a ka ʻōhai
Beloved is Puʻukani in the monkey pod shade

Aloha Maui Hikina i ka holu a ka ‘Īnia
As is East Maui, in the swaying Pride of India

Aloha ka laʻi o Hoʻolale
Adored is the tranquility of Hoʻolale

A me ka malu aloha o Kiapalu
And the beloved serenity of Kiapalu

Aloha Hoʻokaukeano i Halehulili
Beloved Hoʻokaukeano, there at Halehulili

Aloha Kulaloa o Kalihi a me ʻOmokaʻa
Cherished Kulaloa, Kalihi, and ʻOmokaʻa

Aloha ka wai ʻolu o Māwae
Beloved are the soothing waters of Māwae

A me ke one o Puluwai
And the sands of Puluwai

Aloha Waikīkī i kilohi ʻia e ke Kehau
Waikīkī in the gaze of the Kehau breeze

Aloha ka makani hoʻolale waʻa o Kona Hema nei he ʻEka
Greetings to the canoe beckoning ‘Eka wind of Kona Hema

E holu ana i ka welelau o ka lihilihi
Swaying the fringes of the flower petals

I kiʻina mai hoʻi au e ke aloha
I am summoned by love

Puni hoʻi aʻu mamuli o ka leo
Completely enraptured by your voice

Aloha Puʻuhao i ka hoʻowali ke kula o Wākea
Dearest Pu’uhao, bringing a softness to the plains of Wākea

Aloha Puʻunoni i ka la wela o Puʻukoea
Cherished Puʻunoni in the sweltering sun at Puʻukoea

Aloha ka uka o Papa i ka hone a ke kāhuli i ke kulu aumoe
Beloved are the heights of Papa, where the land shells whisper in the midnight still

Moe au a hoʻolana i ka leo o ka manu
I sleep, awakening to birdsong

I ka holu mālie i ka lau o ka ʻawapuhi
In the gentle rustle of the ginger leaves

Aloha ke kula o Pūʻainakō, kahi a kākou e hele ai
Beloved are the plains of Pūʻainakō, where we all frequented

Aloha nā lae makawalu o Kona
Beloved are the multitude of Kona's rocky capes

He liuliu nānaina, he koke i ka manaʻo
Long awaited to view, quick to recall

Aloha ka ihu o Kekāuluohi hone i ka ʻale
Beloved is the prow of Kekāuluohi, gliding through the billows

Aloha aʻu keiki mai ka laʻi o Kalāhiki
Beloved is my child from the calm of Kalāhiki

Hiki mai ka luna, ka ʻalele a ke aloha
The officer arrives, a messenger of love

ʻUhūʻuhū launa ʻole i ka pali o Alaʻihi
Moaning and groaning at Alaʻihi cliff

Aloha Manuahi haʻaheo i ke pili
Aloha to Manuahi, standing proud in the pili grass

I pilikia ka nani o Hāliʻilua
Bringing doubt to the beauty of Hāliʻilua spring

Aloha nui ʻoukou i ke ao nei
Love for you all in this time

I ka puʻuwai o ka manaʻoʻiʻo
In the heart of truth

I ka hihio lua i ke alanui o ka Inuwai
Whistling twofold on the path of the Inuwai wind

E ʻoluʻolu au ma ka ʻōlelo a ke Akua
I find respite in the words of God

He mea ʻole ka mea nāna i kanu
The planter is of no import

A me ka mea nāna i hoʻokahe i ka wai
As is the one who waters

ʻO ke Akua ka mea nāna i hoʻoulu
For God is responsible for its growth

A loaʻa iho la au i ka ʻōlelo a Kepania
I am taken by the words of Kepania

Hoka!! Hoka!! Me ke aloha pau ʻole Amene
Thwarted! Thwarted!! With unending affection, Amen

B. LEIALOHA.
Kona Hema, Hawaiʻi, Aug. 23, 1862

Translated by Kamuela Yim, edited by Puakea Nogelmeier.

Visit the website of Awaiaulu to learn more about this organization.

A huge thanks to Jake Marote for his photographs. See his work on Instagram @jake_of_all_trades and on his website.