He Mele Lahui Hawaii

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He Mele Lâhui Hawaiʻi The Hawaiian National Anthem or The Song of the Hawaiian Nation was composed November, 1866 by Princess Lydia Kamakaeha who later became Queen Lliliuokalani, at the request of King Kamehameha V who wanted a national anthem to replace the British God Save the King. Liliuokalani wrote: "The king was present for the purpose of Criticising my new composition of both words and music, and was liberal in his commendations to me on my success. He admired not only the beauty of music, but spoke ethusiastically of the appropriate words, so well adapted to the air and to the purpose for which they were written. This remained in use as our national anthem for some twenty years or more when my brother composed the words Hawaii Ponoi."[1] It remain Hawaii's national anthem until 1874 when it was replaced by Kalakaua for his own composition Hawaii Ponoi.

[edit] He Mele Lahui Hawaiʻi

Lydia Kamakaeha or Queen Liliuokalani
Lydia Kamakaeha or Queen Liliuokalani
Ka Makua mana loa Almighty Father bend thine ear
Maliu mai iâ mâkou And listen to a nation's prayer
E hâliu aku nei That lowly bows before thy throne
Me ka na`au ha`aha`a And seeks thy fostering care
E mau ka maluhia Grant your peace throughout the land
O nei pae `âina Over these sunny sea girt isles
Mai Hawai`i a Ni`ihau Keep the nation's life, oh Lord,
Ma lalo o kou malu And on our sovereign smile
   
Hui: Chorus:
E mau ke ea o ka `âina Grant your peace throughout the land
Ma kou pono mau Over these sunny isles
A ma kou mana nui Keep the nations life, oh Lord
E ola e ola ka mô`î And upon our sovereign smile
   
E ka haku mâlama mai Guard him with your tender care
I ko mâkou nei mô`î Give him length of years to reign
E mau kona noho `ana On the throne his fathers won
Maluna o ka noho ali`i Bless the nation once again
Hâ`awi mai i ke aloha Give the king your loving grace
Maloko a kona na`au And with wisdom from on high
A ma kou ahonui Prosperous lead his people on
E ola e ola ka mô`î As beneath your watchful eye
Ho`oho e mau ke Grant your peace throughout the land
   
Ma lalo o kou aloha nui Bless O Lord our country's chiefs
Na Li`i o ke Aupuni Grant them wisdom so to live
Me nâ maka`âinana That our people may be saved
Ka lehulehu nô a pau And to You the glory give
Kia`i mai iâ lâkou Watch over us day by day
Me ke aloha ahonui King and people with your love
E ola nô mâkou For our hope is all in You
I kou mana mau Bless us, You who reign above
E mau ke ea Grant your peace throughout the land


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