Hawaiian War Chant

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Hawaiian War Chant was an American popular song whose original melody and lyrics were written sometime in the 1860s by Prince Leleiohoku. The original title of the song was Kaua i ka Huahua'i or "We Two in the Spray." It was not written as a chant, and the Hawaiian lyrics describe a clandestine meeting between two lovers, not a battle. The English title therefore has nothing to do with the song as it was originally written and performed in Hawaii.

The Hawaiian lyrics are unusual because they are often written with the letter "T" appearing where a "K" would be expected. However Hawaiians on the island of Niihau still speak Hawaiian with a sound that is closer to a "T" than to a "K."

English lyrics by Ralph Freed were written in 1936 and the melody changed somewhat at that time by Johnny Noble.

The song was later featured in the 1942 film Ship Ahoy starring Eleanor Powell, Red Skelton and the Tommy Dorsey Band.

A huge success and a crowd favorite in Hawaiian resorts for many years. Singer Hilo Hattie used it extensively in her own shows, singing it at three different speeds with the claim that Leleiohoku wrote it about two palace lovers who met in secret (The identity of the people Leleiohoku may have been writing about -- if not himself -- is not currently known).

She also credited comedy bandleader Spike Jones for popularizing an uptempo comedic version of the song. Jones' 1946 Victor recording, with Carl Grayson on vocal, reached number eight on the charts, according to Joel Whitburn.

Since 1963, the Hawaiian War Chant has served as the finale in the Enchanted Tiki Room attraction at Disneyland.

In 1957, Bill Haley & His Comets recorded the comedic "Me Rock-a-Hula" which was based upon the "Hawaiian War Chant" melody.

In the 1994 Disney animated film The Lion King, the character Timon (voiced by Nathan Lane) performs this song with changed lyrics.

The Michigan Marching Band currently plays this song, following the song Temptation, as part of their traditional post game events because "you can't have one without the other".

Since 2003, "Weird Al" Yankovic included a segment from the song into his "Yoda Chant", a chant he performs at the end of his concerts.

This song is featured in the 2007 major motion picture Surf's Up performed by Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys.

[edit] Hawaiian lyrics

Tahuwai la a tahuwai wai la
Ehu hene la a pili koo lua la
Pututui lu a ite toe la
Hanu lipo ita paalai

Au we ta huala
Au we ta huala

Tahuwai la a tahuwai wai la
Ehu hene la a pili koo lua la
Pututui lu a ite toe la
Hanu lipo ita paalai

Au we ta huala
Au we ta huala

[edit] Original Lyrics of Leleiohoku's Song

Kâua i ka huahua	You and I in the spray
E `uhene lâ i pili ko`olua	Such joy, the two of us together
Pukuku`i lua i ke ko`eko`e	Breathing deep of the palai fern

Hui:	Chorus:
Auwê ka hua`i lâ	Oh, such spray

`Auhea wale ana `oe	`Listen
E ka`u mea e li`a nei	My desire
Mai hô`apa`apa mai `oe	Don't linger
O loa`a pono kâua	Lest we be found

I aloha wau iâ `oe	I loved you
I kâu hanahana pono	Your warmth
La`i a`e ke kaunu me ia la	Calmed passion
Hô`apa`apai ka mana`o	Preventing thought