Aloha 'Oe

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Aloha ʻOe (Farewell to Thee) is a famous Hawai'ian song and the unofficial "national anthem" of Hawai'i. It was composed by the last queen of Hawaiʻi, Queen Liliʻuokalani (1838-1917) in 1877. She wrote the lyrics and put them to music after the Hawai'ian Islands were officially annexed by the United States in 1898. Now the piece is often sung to bid farewell to departing loved ones. There have been dozens of famous renditions by by vocal artists from Alfred Apaka and Elvis Presley to the Brothers Cazimero.

There may be some evidence, likely coincidental, that the melody of the song was inspired by a European folk song.

[edit] Lyrics

Ha‘ahe o ka ua i nā pali
Ke nihi a‘ela i ka nahele
E hahai (uhai) ana paha i ka liko
Pua ‘āhihi lehua o uka

Hui (Chorus):
Aloha ‘oe, aloha ‘oe
E ke onaona noho i ka lipo
One fond embrace,
A ho‘i a‘e au
Until we meet again

‘O ka hali‘a aloha i hiki mai
Ke hone a‘e nei i
Ku‘u manawa
‘O ‘oe nō ka‘u ipo aloha
A loko e hana nei

Maopopo ku‘u ‘ike i ka nani
Nā pua rose o Maunawili
I laila hia‘ia nā manu
Miki‘ala i ka nani o ka lipo

[edit] English translation

This poetic translation is the one that Queen Liliu'okalani wrote herself.

Proudly swept the rain by the cliffs
As it glided through the trees
Still following ever the bud
The ʻahihi lehua of the vale

Chorus:
Farewell to thee, farewell to thee
The charming one who dwells in the shaded bowers
One fond embrace,
'Ere I depart
Until we meet again

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

I have seen and watched your loveliness
The sweet rose of Maunawili
And 'tis there the birds of love dwell
And sip the honey from your lips

[edit] External links

• Lyrics and translation. Includes more extensive history regarding the circumstances of the piece's composition.
• Hawaiian Midi Music. Provides MIDI melodies of numerous Hawai'ian folk songs and pop songs.