Princess Likelike and her siblings King David Kalākaua, Queen Liliʻuokalani, and Crown Prince Leleiohoku II, were known as the Nā Lani ʻEhā (The Royal Four): aliʻi who were renowned as composers and champions of Hawaiian music in the latter half of the 19th century.Ka Wai Ola – April 2008 – V25, No. 4 With Likelike's siblings, she led one of the three royal music clubs that held regular friendly competitions to outdo each other in song and poetry while she was alive. "ʻĀinahau", the most famed of Likelike's works, was composed about the Cleghorn residence in Waikiki, the gathering place for Sunday afternoon musical get-togethers where she wrote most of her compositions. She encouraged the musical education of her daughter, Princess Kaʻiulani, and sponsored concerts and musical pageants. The patronage she gave to young musicians and composers helped perpetuate Hawaiian music.
ʻĀinahau ʻĀinahau, one of the homes of the Oʻahu chiefs, was part of the estate inherited by Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani. Originally called Auaukai, Princess Likelike named it ʻĀinahau or "Cool Land" when she lived there with her husband, Archibald Scott Cleghorn, who turned it into a botanical garden. The stream that flowed through ʻĀinahau and emptied into the ocean where the present Outrigger Hotel is located, was called Apuakehau. She wrote a song about her home the "Cool Land".Ainahau
Lyrics Na ka wai lūkini It is the perfume and the lovely Wai anuhea o ka rose Fragrance of roses that sweeten E hoʻopē nei i ka liko o nā pua The leaf buds of the flowering plants Na ka manu pīkake The peacocks Manu hulu melemele And the yellow feathered birds Nā kāhiko ia o kuʻu home Are the adornments of my home Hui: Chorus: Nani wale kuʻu home Beautiful is my home ʻO ʻĀinahau i ka ʻiu ʻĀinahau so regal I ka holunape Where the fronds A ka lau o ka niu Of the coco palms sway I ka uluwehiwehi The beautiful grove I ke ʻala o nā pua The fragrance of flowers Kuʻu home, kuʻu home i ka ʻiuʻiu At my home, my home so regal Na ka makani It is the gentle breeze Aheahe i pā mai makai From the sea I lawe mai i ke That brings the sweet Onaona līpoa Odor of līpoa sea weed E hoʻoipo hoʻonipo me ke ʻala Mingling with the fragrance of my love O kuʻu home kuʻu home Of my home, my home Kuʻu home i ka ʻiuʻiu My home so regal
Maikaʻi Waipiʻo Maikaʻi Waipiʻo translated as Beautiful Waipiʻo, was a song dedicated to Queen Emma whose beauty reminded Princess Likelike of Waipiʻo and was the inspiration for the song. In keeping with Hawaiian tradition, the song belonged to the Queen rather than the composer.
Lyrics Maikaʻi Waipiʻo Beautiful Waipiʻo Alo lua i nā pali With cliffs facing each other E pōʻai a puni ana Surrounded by cliffs A hapa naʻe makai With an opening toward the sea Hui: Chorus: Maʻemaʻe ka pua Beautiful are the blossoms I ka holo aʻe a ka wai Rain-washed Ua ʻenaʻena i ka lā Sun warmed and Mōhala i nā pali Blooming on the cliff Hoihoi ka piʻina Delightful the ascent ʻO Koaʻekea To Koaʻekea Piʻi nō a hoʻomaha An ascent that takes one to rest I ka Holokūaīwa At Holokūaīwa
Ahe Lau Makani
Ahe Lau Makani, meaning there is a breath, was a waltz composed jointly with the Princess's sister Liliʻuokalani and Kapoli Kamakau, a mysterious collaborator who, to this day, remains unidentified.Daniel Ho Creations – Puukani
Kuʻu Ipo I Ka Heʻe Puʻe One Kuʻu Ipo I Ka Heʻe Puʻe One translated as My Sweetheart In the Rippling Hills,Na mele o Hawai'i nei: 101 Hawaiian songs By Samuel H. Elbert, Noelani Mahoe. Page 70 was a song originally called Ka ʻOwe a ke Kai (The Murmuring of The Sea). The English translation is by Ruth Leilani Tyau and S. H. Elbert. Perhaps the most famous of Likelike's compositions, many believe it was written for a heartbroken girl who could not marry the love of her life.
Lyrics Kuʻu ipo i ka heʻe puʻe one My sweetheart in the rippling hills of sand Me ke kai nehe i ka ʻiliʻili With the sea rustling the pebbles Nipo aku i laila ka manaʻo There, the memory is impassioned Ua kiliʻopu māua i ka nahele In the forest where we delighted Hui: Chorus: Eiā la e maliu mai Here, please listen Eiā ko aloha i ʻaneʻi Here, your lover is here. Hiki mai ana i ka pō nei He came last night Ua kiliʻopu māua i ka nahele We delighted in the forest Ka ʻowē nenehe a ke kai The gentle rustle of the sea Hone ana i ka piko waiʻolu Softly in the pleasant center I laila au la ʻike Where I looked Kiliʻopu māua i ka nahele We delighted in the forest Hiki ʻē mai ana ka makani The wind came first Ua hala ʻē aku e ka Puʻulena The Puʻulena wind passed by Ua lose kou chance e ke hoa You've lost your chance, oh friend Ua kiliʻopu māua i ka nahele We delighted in the forest
See also List of compositions by Leleiohoku II List of compositions by Liliʻuokalani
References