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| Ma waho au aʻo Māhukona lā ʻeā Hana ʻiʻo ka ua iā Kohala lā A laʻa wale nō ka hoʻi lā ʻeā Ka huila a ʻo Kīlauea lā I ʻalawa iho au ma hope lā ʻeā Ka ninui poahi a ka huila hao lā Hele kapalulu nei ʻiliwai lā ʻeā A komo i ka imu hoʻomo`a lā ʻO ka moʻa paha ʻia ʻo ke ko lā ʻeā Ke pipiʻi nei ma ke aniani lā Haʻina ʻia mai ka puana lā ʻeā Ka huila a ʻo Kīlauea lā |
I arrived outside of
Māhukona The rain was heavy in Kohala I came by way of the steamer Kīlauea, with its wheels turning I glanced back The wheels of the boiler room were turning A buzzing sound from the waterhose As it entered the oven Sugar may have been cooked this way The steam fogs the glass The story is told The wheels of the Kīlauea were turning |
Source: Hines Collection - Māhukona was a port used primarily by Kohala Sugar Plantation to export its products. The Kīlauea was an interisland steamer from the time of Kamehameha V. This mele tells the story of disappointment in love. In the 1st verse, the rain refers to someone truly in love, but now this pleasure has turned to pain. Kohala (ko is to draw and hala to the point of no return) means that the lover has been drawn away. The writer compares himself to the paddle wheel of the steamer. In the 4th verse he sings of love that has run its course. Ko is sugarcane but also means something that is drawn out and has come to an end. In this song, love has run it course. | |