“Nani Na Pua Koʻolau” is a fine example of Liliʻuokalani’s writing skills, where romantic love, love of nature, and love of the land are happily and metaphorically entwined in almost every line. In her original writing of this song, she used variant pronunciations: in wale, wili, and wiliau, words normally spelled with a “w,” she used a “v”. This song is one of her first published compositions, created while still a young princess. (Moon Kauakahi)

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Nani nā pua Koʻolau

I memele i ka uka

Ka uka o Kuihanalei

I lei mau no ke aloha

ʻAuhea wale ana ʻoe

E ka pua o ka lokelani

ʻO ka ʻoi aku nō ʻoe

Ma mua o ka nae ʻala.

 

Mahalo au ʻo ka nani

Nā lehua o Līhau

He ʻala kūpaoa

Anuanu o ka nahele

I wili ʻia me ka maile

Lau liʻi o Koʻiahi

ʻAuhea lā ia pua

ʻAkipohe o Halealoha.

 

Ua ola nō kāua

I ka wai huna a ka manu

He ʻala pua pīkake

Huli au a hoʻomaʻū

ʻAuhea wale ana ʻoe

E ka pua o ka wiliau

Hoʻi mai nō kāua

E pili me ke aloha.

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*Compiled by Michael-Thomas Foumai. Digitally published for the Hawaiʻi Symphony Sheraton Starlight Series on June 4-6 2021.