Pö Paliuli I ke ’ala o ka maile
Kawaikapuokalani K. Hewett
This song was composed as a mele inoa for my granddaughter Emmalani Kahiwahiwaponi‘ulaokalani “Sakurako” Hewett. She is “Ku‘u Lei Hiwahiwa.” (2004)
Pö Paliuli i ke ‘ala o ka maile
He ‘ala ho‘oheno pili i ka poli
He ha‘imoeipo ka Maile-ha‘i-wale
E walea käua i ke ‘ala onaona
Heahea mai ka Maile-kalu-hea
Luhi‘ehu lau maile nani mähiehie
Laua‘e ‘a‘ala o ka Maile-lau-li‘i
Lïhau ‘ia mai e ka ua noenoe
Pä ka hanu ‘a‘ala o ka Maile-pa-kaha
Kahakaha lei nani kau i ka umauma
Mapu ke ‘ala o Kahalaomäpuana
He puana keia o ku‘u lei hiwahiwa
Chorus
He aloha e, e ku‘u lei
Paliuli is enveloped in the fragrant maile
A cherished fragrance clinging to the heart
Fascinated by the fragrance of Maileha’iwale
Let us delight in its aroma
Like a beckoning call the fragrance of Mailekaluhea
Attractive to behold, fine in appearance
Esteemed is the fragrance of the Mailelauli’i
Cooled by the mist
Inhale the fragrance of the Mailepakaha
This lei of superb beauty worn proudly on the chest
Wafted is the fragrance of Kahalaomäpuana
This is the completion of my song of my distinguished lei
My beloved lei
Here are the ‘ölelo and the simple English translations to my mele
“Pö Paliuli I Ke ‘Ala O Ka Maile.”
This mele was written as a mele inoa for my granddaughter, “Emmalani Kahiwahiwaponi‘ulaokalani Sakurako Hewett.”
Emmalani bears an ancestral name from the mo‘okü‘auhau of our ancestor Kekauhiwamoku who is the son of King kekaulike of Maui.
Because of our many genealogical links to the names in the mo‘o‘ölelo of Lä‘ieikawai this mele honors the names of the five Maile Sisters who become kahu or guardians to Lä‘ieikawai. The names of the girls are, Maileha‘iwale, Mailekaluhea, Mailelauli‘i, Mailepakaha and Kahalaomäpuana.
I use their names and the characteristics of their fragrances to weave this “lei hiwahiwa” for my granddaughter.
Web Kupua Earl Stokes email: stokes@lava.net