Aloha Oe

Queen Liliuokalani, age 53

Source: Folk Songs Hawaii Sings by John M. Kelly, Jr Library of Congress Catalog Card #62-14118 This song of farewell between two lovers is the most famous of the Queen's compositions, written in 1878. The tune of the verse resembles The Rock Beside the Sea, composed by Charles Crozat Converse and published in Philadephia, 1857. The melody of the chorus is remarkably close to the chorus of George Frederick Root's composition, There's Music in the Air, published in 1854. There is a manuscript of Aloha Oe in Queen Liliuokalani's handwriting in the Bishop Museum. Lahilahi Webb and Virginia Dominis Koch tell of a visit by the queen and her attendants to Maunawili Ranch, the home of Edwin Boyd in windward Oahu. As they started their return trip to Honolulu on horseback up the steep Pali trail, the queen turned to admire the view of Kaneohe Bay. She witnessed a particularly affectionate farewell between a young man in her party and a lovely girl from Maunawili. As they rode up the steep cliff and into the swirling winds, she started to hum this melody weaving words into a romantic song. At the top of the pali, a cloud hung over the mountain peak and slowly floated down Nuuanu Valley. The queen continued to hum and completed her song as they rode the winding trail down the valley back to Honolulu. Edited 3/2/98.

[Hawaii]
Ha'aheo 'e ka ua i na pali
Ke nihi a'ela i ka nahele
E ha hai ana i ka liko
Pua 'ahihi lehua o uka

Hui:
Aloha 'oe, aloha 'oe
E ka onaona noho i ka lipo

Hui:

Ka halia ko aloha kai hiki mai
Ke hone ae nei ku'u manawa
O oe no ka'u ipo aloha
A loko e hana nei

Hui:

Maopopo ku'u ike ika nani
Na pua rose o Maunawili
I laila hoohie na mau u
Mikiala ika nani oia pua

[English]
Proudly sweeps the rain over the cliffs
Creeps into the forest
Still following with grief, the bud
Of the ahihi lehua flowers of the uplands

Chorus:
Farewell to you, farewell to you
O fragrance of one who dwells in the blue depths
One fond embrace, until I return
Until we meet again

Chorus:
Sweet memories come back to me
Bringing fresh remembrances of the past
Dearest one, yes you are mine, my own
From you, true love shall never depart

Chorus:
I have seen and watched your loveliness
The sweet rose of Maunawili
Where the birds of love dwell
And sip the honey from your lips

07:32 7/17/2004

Music provided by: Hawaiian L's Hideaway.

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