Heʻeia - music by J. Kalahiki

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Aia i Heʻeia lā
I ka nalu e heʻe ana
Ea, ea, ea, ea

Heʻe ana i ka muku lā
Hoʻi ana i ka lala
Ea, ea, ea, ea

A naʻu i kīkaha lā
ʻO ia ʻae kai
Ea, ea, ea, ea

A he kuhihewa koʻu lā
Aia i ka poli
Ea, ea, ea, ea

Hāpapa hewa au lā
I ka maka o ka moena
Ea, ea, ea, ea

ʻEʻena ia manu lā
Noho mai i ke kuahiwi
Ea, ea, ea, ea

Haʻina ka puana lā
O Hālala i ka nuku manu
Ea, ea, ea, ea

Haʻina mai ka puana lā
O Kaleleonalani
Ea, ea, ea, ea


King David Kālakaua

 

There at Heeia
We go surfing on the waves
Tra la la la, tra la la la
Surfing of the crest
Returning on the diagonal wave
Tra la la la, tra la la la
 
Tis I who criss-crossed
The edge of the shore
Tra la la la, tra la la la
 
I mistakenly thought
You were in my arms
Tra la la la, tra la la la

I groped in vain
The meshes of the mat
Tra la la la, tra la la la

Shy was the bird
That lives in the uplands
Tra la la la, tra la la la

Tell the refrain of
The over-sized beak of the bird
Tra la la la, tra la la la
 
The end of my story
In honor of Kaleleonalani
Tra la la la, tra la la la


Source: Noble's Hawaiian Hulas - This chant, set to music, is a mele inoa (name song) for King Kalākaua and commemorates his visit to Heʻeia, a surfing area on the leeward side of Hawaiʻi, a favorite of aliʻi. The mele praises the surfing skill of Kalākaua and his visit to enjoy the sport and meet a sweetheart.
Music clip by Lani Lee