Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī
 King Kalākaua, author of the anthem's lyrics. | |
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State anthem of Hawaiʻi | |
| Lyrics | King David Kalākaua, 1874 |
|---|---|
| Music | Captain Henri Berger |
| Adopted | 1967 |
Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī is the current state song of the State of Hawaii. The words were written in 1874 by King David Kalākaua with music composed by Captain Henri Berger, then the king's royal bandmaster. Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī was one of the national anthems of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi and also was the National Anthem of the Republic of Hawaii , having replaced Liliuokalani's composition He Mele Lahui Hawaii. It was the adopted song of the Territory of Hawaiʻi before becoming the state symbol by an act of the Hawaiʻi State Legislature in 1967. The melody is reminiscent of "God Save the Queen" and the Prussian anthem "Heil dir im Siegerkranz". Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī is commonly sung at sporting events in Hawaiʻi, immediately after the national anthem.
In the Hawaiian language, Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī means "Hawaiʻi's Own".
Lyrics
| Hawaiian | English |
|---|---|
| Hawaiʻi ponoʻī, | Hawaiʻi's own true son, |
| Nānā i kou mōʻī, | Be loyal to your king, |
| Kalani aliʻi, | Your country's liege and lord |
| Ke aliʻi. | The chief. |
| Hawaiʻi ponoʻī, | Hawaiʻi's own true sons, |
| Nānā i nā aliʻi, | Look to your chiefs, |
| Nā pua muli kou, | The children after you, |
| Nā pōkiʻi. | The young. |
| Hawaiʻi ponoʻī, | Hawaiʻi's own true sons, |
| E ka lāhui ē, | People of loyal heart, |
| ʻO kāu hana nui | The only duty lies |
| E ui ē. | Listen and abide. |
| Hui: | Chorus: |
| Makua lani ē, | Father above us all, |
| Kamehameha ē, | Kamehameha e, |
| Na kaua e pale, | Who guarded in the war, |
| Me ka ihe. | With his spear. |
Resources
- Huapala ~ Hawaiian Music and Hula Archives ~ recording of melody available at website
Kingdom of Hawaii
As a part of the United States
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| Preceded by He Mele Lahui Hawaii |
National Anthem of the Kingdom of Hawaii 1876-1893 |
Monarchy abolished |