Puʻuhonua Nani (Beautiful Refuge) - By Val Kepilino & Malia Craver
Pō nei iaʻu e hoʻola i mālie ana I ka nani o ka mahina Lana ka manaʻo i kau kauoha I puʻuhonʻua wahi e maha ai No nā muʻo kama aloha au Nou ka welina e Liliʻuokalani Kaulana ʻiʻo nō ʻo Muʻolaulani Mālama ola no nā lei ʻImi ana i kau ʻiʻini ai Ke aloha ka naʻauao ka noʻeau Kēia nō nā pono no mākou Mahalo iā ʻoe e Liliʻuokalani Hanohano ʻoe e Kapālama Ka ʻōpua haʻaheo o ka lewalani I laila nō i ʻike maka ʻia Kou lokomaikaʻi no nā kama Ua piha lākou me ka hauʻoli Aloha nou e Lili`uokalani Haʻina ʻia ka puana i lohe ia Puʻuhonua nani a maikaʻi Kaʻapuni nei a puni Hawaiʻi No nā pono ʻana kama lehulehu Puʻuhonua no ka launa aloha E mau kou inoa e Liliʻuokalani	Val Kepilino	Last night, as I sat quietly in the calm Observing the beauty of the moon A thought came to me of your will To have a refuge, a place of peace For your beloved young people For you, our fond affection, o Liliʻuokalani Famed indeed, is Muʻolaulani A preserver of life for youth Now come seeking what you had desired Love, education and wisdom, too These are the benefits bestowed on us Thank you, o Liliʻuokalani Honored indeed are you, O Kapālama Like a cloud proudly rising in the sky There, all can see for themselves Your generosity to your children They are filled with happiness And love for you, o Liliʻuokalani This ends my praise; may all hear A place of refuge, beautiful and good In every nook here in Hawaiʻi For the benefit of many children A place of refuge, a contact with love May your name live on, O Liliʻuokalani
Source: Aarona-Kepilino Collection, Peter Ahia CD "Peter Sings". This mele honors Queen Liliʻuokalani and her Trust for orphaned Hawaiian children. Muʻolaulani is the ancient name for the particular district in Kapālama where the Queen had a home. It now houses the Queen Liliʻuokalani Trust's main building. © V. Kepilino