Ilihia i ka nani o Paliuli
Kawaikapuokalani K. Hewett
A mele inoa for my granddaughter, IlihiananioHawai’iLoa whom I affectionately call, “Pumkin.” Our family mo‘okü‘auhau mentions many ancient chiefly names of which Lä‘ieikawai is one of them.
Aia Lä‘ieikawai
I ka uka ‘iu‘iu o Paliuli
Ilihia
I ka nani
O Paliuli
Kau mai la ka wahine ali‘i
I ka ‘eheu o ka manu ‘i‘iwi
Ua honi ‘ia e ka ‘ala o ka maile
Moaniani i ke kulu aumoe
Kani ka pü lä‘ï o Mali‘o
Honehone i ka poli a ka ipo
He inoa nou e Lä‘ieikawai
‘O Kawai‘a‘alalehuaoPaliuli
There is Lä‘ieikawai
In the lofty uplands of Paliuli
Overwhelmed (awed) by the beauty
Of Paliuli
The chiefly woman (Lä‘ieikawai) rests
On the wings of the ‘i‘iwi bird
Kissed by the fragrance of the maile
Wafted in the late night
The flute of Mali’o resounds it’s tones
Playing soothingly to the sweetheart
A name song for Lä‘ieikawai
Kawai‘a‘alalehuaoPaliuli
Here are the ‘ölelo and the simple English translations
to my mele, “Ilihia I ka Nani O Paliuli.”
This song was written as a mele inoa for my granddaughter, “IlihiananioHäwai‘iloa.”
She bears an ancestral name honoring the kahili of the great Chief Lonoikamakahiki which was named, “Häwai‘iloa.”
I also honor with this song our genealogical connections to the name of Lä‘ieikawai, the beautiful mythical chiefess dwelling in the uplands of Paliuli.
The name Lä‘ieikawai appears in the family mo‘okü‘auhau several times along with the name of her twin sister Lä‘ielohelohe.
Both the sisters dwell with Ka‘önohiokalä the God of the Sun.
Our family genealogy chant from my great grandmother (five gereations removed),
Kanaheleaumoku begins with the name Ka‘önohiokalä who is also the God of the Sun.
My great grandmother, Kanaheleaumoku is the great great granddaughter of Kekauhiwamoku the son of King Kekaulike of Maui from where this genealogy comes.
Web Kupua Earl Stokes email: stokes@lava.net