Hula - Words by Mary Pukui, music by Noelani Mahoe
Makemake nō anei ʻoe E aʻo i nei mea a he hula Me ka noʻeau a mikimiki `oi Ka hula ana a ka Hawaʻ`i Penei aʻe kuhi ai Hana nō a ʻolu nā lima Ke kiʻina maikaʻi a ka wāwae E kohukohu pono iho ai E ho`onaaue mālie aʻe I ko kīkala a lewa Huli ʻākau a hoʻi ka hema He "good fun" mai hoʻi kau! Kāmau mai e ka ʻuwehe I ka hela ma ke kāholo Kaʻapuni aʻe kāua a puni O ka "round-the-island" mai kēia Haʻina mai ana ka puana No ka hula kaulana o Hawaiʻi Huli ʻākau a hoʻi i ka hema He "good fun" mai keia!	Mary Pukui       Noelani Mahoe	Do you wish to learn This thing called the hula? With neatness and nicety Is the hula of Hawai'i done This is the way to gesture Make your hands move gracefully Then step along nicely To make them coordinate Move quietly Your hips in a gentle sway Swing right then swing left This is really good fun Then add the `uwehe step The hela next and the kāholo Let us go all around This step is the "round-the-island" This ends my song Of Hawai'i's famous dance Swing right, then swing left This is really good fun!
Source: Noelani Mahoe CD "Eia Au 'O Noelani". This poem was written in April, 1951, and given to Noelani by Pat Namaka Bacon, Mary Kawena Pukui's hanai daughter. Noelani set it to music for the Year of the Hawaiian, 1987. © 1995, Tradewind Records, PO Box 37624, Honolulu HI 96837.