Liliʻuokalani (1838–1917), Queen of the Hawaiian Islands, was one of Hawaiʻi's most accomplished composers and musicians. She composed over 165 songs and chants. One of her most notable musical compositions is the popular song "Aloha ʻOe".
"Aloha ʻOe"
(Farewell to Thee), Liliʻuokalani's most famous work about two lovers bidding farewell.
"He Mele Lāhui Hawaiʻi"
(The Song of the Hawaiian Nation), was the third of Hawaiʻi's four national anthems. Liliʻuokalani wrote this song at the request of King Kamehameha V in 1866, well before she was queen.The American Experience/Hawaii/Lili'uokalani's Legacy
"Nohea I Muʻolaulani" Nohea I Muʻolaulani, translated as Handsome One of Muʻolaulani The Galliard String Quartet:"Songs of Liliuokalani" sometimes as Handsome at Muʻolaulani, and also referred to simply as Muʻolaulani, dates to May 1885. It was composed for Liliʻuokalani's new home in Kapālama named Mu'olaulani which was opened with a gala party in May 1885. The Kapālama house was a source of great joy to her and became the subject of this song. It is now the site of the Lili'uokalani Children's Center.Mu`olaulani – by Lili`uokalani at Huapala.OrgHistorical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands – Queen Lili'uokalani and her Music – Part 4 He mea nui ke aloha This great love of yours Ke hiki mai i oʻu nei Has come here to me Meheʻo kuʻu lei kaimana ala It is like my diamond necklace Kāhiko o kuʻu kino To adorn my person Kuʻu lei popohe i ka laʻi My lei so shapely in the calm Nohea i Muʻolaulani Handsome at Muʻolaulani Ka beauty lā he mau ia It is a beauty, always a thing forever No nā kau ā kau For all seasons
"Ahe Lau Makani" Ahe Lau Makani, translated as The Soft Gentle BreezeThe American Experience/Hawaii/Lili'uokalani's Legacy or There is a Zephyr, is a famous waltz composed by Queen Liliʻuokalani around 1868. Probably written at Hamohamo, the Waikīkī home of the Queen, this song appeared in "He Buke Mele O Hawaii" under the title He ʻAla Nei E Māpu Mai Nei. Ahe Lau Makani is used only verse 1 and 2, and may be an abridged version. Līlīlehua refers to the name of the gentle rain in Palolo Valley, Oahu. Verse 1, 2 and the Chorus is translated by Liliʻuokalani, and Verse 3, 4 by Hui Hānai.Ahe Lau Makani – by Lili`uokalani at Huapala.Org
Ahe Lau Makani was composed jointly with the Queen's sister Princess Likelike and Kapoli, a mysterious collaborator who, to this day, remains unidentified. The "Viennese-ness" of this waltz is especially evident in the hui, or chorus. Ahe Lau Makani describes a lover's sweet breath.Daniel Ho Creations – Puukani It poetically describes someone's yearning for a loved one. As Dennis says, "In the figurative Hawaiian, this breeze is actually the breath of one who I admire, carried by the wind. Whoever the Queen wrote about, she got right into that person and conveyed it through the whole song." He ʻala nei e māpu mai nei There is a breath so gently breathing Nā ka makani lau aheahe So soft, so sweet, by sighing breezes I lawe mai i kuʻu nui kino That as it touches my whole being Hoʻopumehana i kuʻu poli It warms me in my heart Hui: Chorus: E ke hoa o ke Ahe lau makani We, fair one, together, shall enjoy such moments Halihaliʻala o kuʻu ʻāina While murmuring wind sweeps over my fatherland He ʻala nei e moani mai nei There is a breath so soft and balmy Na ka ua noe Līlīlehua, Brought by sweet zephyrs, Līlīlehua I lawe mai i kuʻu poli And while wafted to my bosom Hoʻopumehana i ke aloha It warms me with love He ʻala nei e puia mai nei There is a fragrance that saturates Na ka makani anu kolonahe A cool, soft breeze I lawe mai nā a pili Brought it to cling to me Hoʻopumehana i ka manaʻo Warming me with feelings He ʻala nei e aheahe mai nei There is a fragrance wafted here Na ka leo hone a nā manu The sweet call of birds I lawe mai a loaʻa au Brought it to find me Hoʻopumehana i ko leo Being warmed by your voice
"By And By, Hoʻi Mai ʻOe" By And By, Hoʻi Mai ʻOe, translated as By and By Thou Wilt Return, is a famous song composed by Queen Liliʻuokalani. Aia i Mauna Kilohana There at Mount Kilohana O aʻu lehua ʻula i ka wao My red lehua of the forest Na maka ʻohe kiʻi i ka wai Sharp eyes fetch the water ʻAhaʻi ka ʻiʻini a ka manaʻo And carry off the desire of the heart Hui: Chorus: By and by hoʻi mai ʻoe By and by you will return E he ʻala hoene i ka poli O fragrance that softly flutters my heart By and by hoʻi mai ʻoe By and by you will return I ʻaneʻi kāua e laʻi ai Here you and I will spend our days in rapture E ʻae ana paha wau i ka ualo I shall perhaps yield to the urge I ka leo hea a ka pololei To the calling voice of the land shell E hoʻi aku no wau e pili E shall return to be close Me ka ua Kipuʻu o ka nahele With the Kipuʻu rain of the forest Mehe ua noe ala ko aloha Like a misty rain is your love E hana mau nei kuʻu nui kino That thrills my whole being ʻO kou kai ia e makoi ai It is the love which you tender Uʻi ʻaʻa ia pua i ka nani That flower glows with beauty
"Ka ʻŌiwi Nani"
Ka ʻŌiwi Nani, translated as The Beautiful Native, is a love song composed and translated by Liliʻuokalani on June 23, 1886, at Palolo, Oʻahu.Ka `Ôiwi Nani (The Beautiful Native ) – Words & Music by Lili`uokalani at Huapala.Org
In The Queen's Songbook, editors Dorothy Kahananui Gillett and Barbara Barnard Smith note that it's not a surprise that this love song from 1886, when Lili‘uokalani was still a princess, comes from a time when her diaries "are strewn with references to a special 'friend', perhaps Henry Berger." Berger was the director of the Royal Hawaiian Band, and Gillett and Smith note the possibility "that the song celebrates a romantic liaison" with him. Even the title, which translates to "The Beautiful Form", or as the Queen herself translated it, Beautiful One, has possible romantic associations. It is one of the most compelling melodies of the Queen's songs, and I arranged it so the second verse is played in a relaxed 12/8 ballad style. I ke ahiahi Pōʻakolu It was on a Wednesday evening Kuʻu ʻike ʻana iho That tidings came to me He ʻalele waha ʻole na ke aloha A voiceless message from my loved one E ʻī mai ana iaʻu And thus it said to me Hui: Chorus: E ʻī mai ana ʻī mai ana And thus it said, thus it said to me Aia Keʻala i ka nahele Keala has gone to the woodland Kahi i walea ai And while on her downy bed of Palai I ka ʻolu o ia uka She inhales the perfume of the flowers A he nani ʻiʻo nō ia pua Bright and lovely indeed is that blossom Me he lāʻī pala ala ka memele Likened to the lāʻī pala (yellow ti leaf) so fair Ka ʻōiwi nani o ke kā makahala Or the beautiful form of the ka makahala Lamalama i ka uka o Lanihuli That sheds radiance over all of Lanihuli
"Ka Hanu O Hanakeoki" Ka Hanu O Hanakeoki, translated as The Scent of Hanakeoki, or sometimes plainly called Hanakeoki, is a famous song composed by Liliʻuokalani in 1874. It a piece mentioned in "The Queen's Songbook" and translated into English by Hui Hānai. The song may allude to property the Queen owned in Pālolo Valley.Ka Hanu O Hanakeoki (The Scent of Hanakeoki) – Queen Lili`uokalani at Huapala.Org
Nani wale ka hiʻona o ka manu lā The features of the bird are so beautiful ʻO ka ʻiʻiwi maka onaona pōlena lā The sweet-eyed ʻiʻiwi pōlena Noho i ka malu lāʻau lā Dwelling in the shade of the forest Ulunahele pō i ka lehua lā Forest overshadowed with lehua flowers Hui: Chorus: Ilihia wau i ke ʻala lā I am overwhelmed with the fragrance O ka hanu o Hanakeoki lā The scent of Hanakeoki Punihei ka manaʻo hoʻohihi lā My thoughts are engulfed Hanu ʻaʻala o Hanakeoki By the sweet scent of Hanakeoki Alia ʻoe e ka ʻamakihi lā Wait ʻamakihi Manu puapua lenalena lā Yellow-tailed bird E ālai nei i ka wai lā Obstructing the water Wai hālukuluku i ka pali lā Water rushing noisily upon the cliff E inu aku wau i kena lā I want to drink the water to quench my thirst I ka wai lehua a ka manu lā On the bird's lehua nectar Hō iho kāua ʻeloʻelo lā Let's you and I indulge and be drenched A hoʻi a e hoʻolaʻilaʻi lā Then return to find contentment
"Kuʻu Pua I Paoakalani"
Kuʻu Pua I Paoakalani, often referred to simply as Paoakalani, is a famous song composed by Queen Liliʻuokalani while imprisoned in ʻIolani Palace. It is about her garden in Paoaokalani, from which a loyal haole supporter, John Wilson (whose mother, Evelyn T. Wilson, went into voluntary imprisonment with the Queen) regularly brought her flowers. These flowers were wrapped in newspaper, through which means she was able to read the news that was prohibited to her during her imprisonment. The song is a tribute to this young man, whom she held in very high esteem.
Performance of the song is known to be vocally challenging in terms of range, timing, power, and breath control. One of the most famous recorded renditions was made by activist/singer George Helm on the first live album that was released after his death in the Kahoʻolawe struggle. E ka gentle breeze e pā mai nei O gentle breeze that waft to me Hoʻohāliʻaliʻa mai ana iaʻu Sweet, cherished memories of you E kuʻu sweet never fading flower Of my sweet never fading flower I bloom i ka uka ‘o Paoakalani That blooms in the fields of Paoakalani Hui: Chorus: ʻIke mau i ka nani o nā pua I've often seen those beauteous flowers O ka uka o Uluhaimalama That grew at Uluhaimalama ʻAʻole naʻe hoʻi e like But none of those could be compared, Me kuʻu pua i ka laʻi o To my flower that blooms in the fields of Paoakalani Paoakalani Lahilahi kona ma hiʻona Her face is fair to behold With softest eyes as black as jet With softest eyes as black as jet Pink cheeks so delicate of hue Pink cheeks so delicate of hue I ulu i ka uka o Paoakalani That grew in the fields of Paoakalani Nane ʻia mai ana kuʻu aloha Now name to me the one I love E ka gentle breeze e waft mai nei Gentle breezes passing by O come to me kaʻu mea e liʻa nei And bring to me that blossom fair I ulu ika uka o Paoakalani That blooms in the fields of Paoakalani
Manu Kapalulu Manu Kapalulu, translated to Quail, is one of the numerous songs and chants composed by Queen Liliʻuokalani. Composed in November 1878, this was an admonishment from Liliʻuokalani to a disparaging remark. According to Hawaiian traditions lessons in life and morality were usually taught in music and riddles. Manu Kapalulu was about the Queen's annoyance with someone.Ka Wai Ola – April 2008 – V25, No. 4
This song has many allusion to Hawaiian mythology. The Kilohana in verse 1, stanza 2 is in Kalihi Valley on O'ahu and was the sacred home of Haumea and Wakea. Verse 2, stanzas 3 and 4 is an allusion to the old Hawaiian religion. Although Liliʻuokalani embraced Christianity, she was very familiar with the practice of worshipping and feeding na aumakua (family gods). Kapo, the dark sorceress in verse 3, stanza 4, is Kapoʻulaʻkīnaʻu, the dual-natured goddess, daughter of Haumea and Wakea, and sister of Pele and Kamohoaliʻi. Her benevolent nature was Laka, the goddess of hula. This song also served as a mele inoa (name song) for Princess KaʻiulaniHistorical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands – Queen Lili'uokalani and her Music – Part 3