Henry Kapono

(Paukû ‘ekahi)    (Verse #1)
Aloha na’ahahui o na ali’I  Hail societies of chieftains
Na ali’i mai na kupuna mai  Chieftains from our ancestors
E pa’a i na’olelo kaulana  Remember the famous saying
E hele a moe i ka ala   Go and sleep upon the byways

(Paukû ‘elua)    (Verse #2)
Hu wale ‘ae na ho’omana’o ana  Memories come
No na ali’i kaulana   Of the famous chiefs
Ua pau, ua hala lako   They are gone, they have passed
A koe no na pua   And their flowers survive

(Paukû ‘ekolu)    (Verse #3)
E lei i ka lei ha’aheo o Hawai’I  Wear the cherished leis of Hawaii
Ka wehi ho’i o na ali’i i hala  Adornment of departed chiefs
E pa’a ka mana’o me ka lokahi  May all unite in recalling
E mau ke ea o ka’aina i ka pono  The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness

(Paukû ‘eha)    (Verse #4)
He ali’i ‘o ka lani, ua kaulana  Royal chief, famous
Ka Napoliona o ka Pakipika  Napoleon of the Pacific
E lei i ka wehi ha’aheo o Hawai’I Wear the cherished adornments of Hawaii
Na hulu mamo like ‘ole   The mamo feather leis
E lei i ka wehi ha’aheo o Hawai’I Wear the cherished adornments of Hawaii
Na hulu mamo like ‘ole   The mamo feather leis

(Mele hui) (Chorus)
Ha,he,hu_eo_ Ha,he,hu_eo (Ha, he, hu is a war chant-eo means “Victory”)
Ha,he,hu_eo_ Ha,he,hu_eo

(Paukû ‘elima)    (Verse #5)
‘Imi nui’o Maleka o loli’I  America seeks our welfare
Ka wehi ho’i o na ali’i i hala  The adornment of departed chiefs
‘A’ole no na’e e like aku  Not the same
Me ka mea no’eau ke kupuna  As the ancestors’ wisdom
He ali’i ‘o ka lani ua kaulana  Chief royal and famous
Ke ‘ahi-kanana o ka Pakipika  Fierce tuna of the Pacific
Nana no i ulupa na pae moku  When he struck the island group
A pau malalo ona   All were subdued
Nana no i ulupa na pae moku  When he struck the island group
A pau malalo…    All were subdued

(Leo’ole) (Instrumental)
(E hana hou ka paukû ‘elima – mele hui)-(Repeat verse #5 – Chorus)

NA ALII – The Chiefs
I first heard this song performed by my favorite Hawaiian artist/legend, Kui Lee. He was a big influence. When I saw him I said to myself, “I want to do that”, and here I am doing it. If you get the chance to hear his version of Na Ali’I, you’ll be surprised as to how different we do it, but the one thing in common is that our interpretations come from the heart. I wanted to capture the power of respect that I interpret this song to be. Respect for my Hawaiian heritage, respect for the Kings and Queens (Na Ali’i) of Hawaii’s past, the ’Aina (land), our Kupuna (ancestors) and all that was before us. This song also talks about King Kamehameha the Great, Hawaii’s first and greatest King. He was a powerful warrior and a just and honest King who loved his people. I respect him most for his vision of Peace and Unity for the Hawaiian people. His uniting of the Hawaiian island brought an end to years of war and bloodshed. With undeniable respect I pay tribute to my heritage.

(Paukû ‘ekahi)   (Verse #1)
Aia i He`eia la   There at Heeia
I ka nalu e he`e ana  We go surfing on the waves
Ea, ea,    Tra la la la, Tra la la la
(E hana hou ka pauku)  (Repeat verse)

(Paukû ‘elua)   (Verse #2)
He`e ana i ka muku la  Surfing of the crest
Ho`i ana i ka lala  Returning on the diagonal wave
Ea, ea,    Tra la la la Tra la la la, Tra la la la
(E hana hou ka pauku)  (Repeat verse)

(Paukû ‘ekolu)   (Verse #3)
A na`u i kïkaha la  Tis I who criss-crossed
`O ia `ae kai   The edge of the shore
Ea, ea,    Tra la la la, Tra la la la
(E hana hou ka pauku)  (Repeat verse)

(Paukû ‘eha)
Ha`ina ka puana la  Tell the refrain of
O Hälala i ka nuku manu The over-sized beak of the bird
Ea, ea,    Tra la la la, Tra la la la
(E hana hou ka pauku)  (Repeat verse)

HE’EIA
King Kalakaua was the 7th King of the Hawaiian islands. He was one of only two Kings elected to the throne. Though in the beginning the Hawaiian people were reluctant of his ability as a King, he soon won their love and admiration by his sincerity and affection for Hawaii and it’s people. He traveled extensively and by this realized the importance of perpetuating the Hawaiian race and restoring the pride of the Hawaiian traditions. Although he was a progressive and global thinker he had a fun loving and mischievous side and especially a love for beautiful women. He’eia is a chant written for King Kalakaua and although it refers to the sport of surfing, under the surface this chant reflects the romantic side of the great King.

I wrote this instrumental piece to pay tribute to the great surfers of yesterday and today. Although I grew up surfing, it was once a sport for Royalty only and forbidden to commoners. Through time the kapu’s were lifted and I feel the great wave riders of today are the Ali‘i of the ocean. And to all the surf rock guitar gods, thank you and “rock on”!

(Paukû ‘ekahi)      (Verse #1)
Pohaka la     Sunbeams
I ke anuenue     Through a rainbow
Kai nakolo     The roar of the surf
Manako ‘ono     Delicious mangoes
Honi ke’ala     Smell the fragrance
Puliki ho’I     Embrace as well

(Mele hui) (Chorus)
I ko Hawai’i All that is Hawaii
Hawaii aloha a mau loa (Hana hou mele hui) Beloved Hawaii Forever (Repeat chorus)

(Paukû ‘elua)      (Verse #2)
Moemoea     Fantastic
Kaunu pa’a     Steady lovemaking
Luina kele     A sailor sailing
I ka moana     On the open ocean
Kanaka u’I     Beautiful people
I kahakai     On the beach

(Mele hui) (Chorus)
‘I ko Hawaii It is all that is Hawaii
Hawaii aloha a mau loa (Hana hou mele hui) Beloved Hawaii Forever (Repeat chorus)

(Uapo)       (Bridge)
Nui ka loli i ‘ike ‘ia    So many changes I bave seen
Nui na wahi i hele ‘ia    So many places I have been
Nani a mau loa ia Paradise, ia Paradise  Continuously seeking Paradise

HAWAII ALOHA (A MAU LOA)
Hawaii Aloha A Mau Loa means Beloved Hawaii Forever. Hawaii a place people
all over the World, including myself call, “Paradise”. A place I am so lucky to call, “Home”. Here we celebrate the warmth of the sun, the beauty of the rainbow, the sound of the ocean, the people of Hawaii…Hawaii Forever. I am a pure Hawaiian born and raised right outside Waikiki, one of eight children in my family. We were so lucky to have such great parents who taught us true “Aloha”. We didn’t have much, but we had everything. I wrote this song for my undying love for these islands, Hawaii.
…“there’s no other place that I’d rather be , than home in the islands in the middle of the sea”.

E ho mai ka ‘ike mai luna mai e   Grant us the knowledge from above
No na mea huna no‘eau, no na mele e  Concerning the hidden wisdom of music
E ho mai     Grant
E ho mai     Grant
Eho mai, e,e,e      Grant us these things
E ho mai     Grant
E ho mai     Grant
Eho mai, e, e, e…    Grant us these things
e, e, e…e, e, e…e, e, e…

EHO MAI
I feel so fortunate to be able to communicate to the World through music, thank you. This is a chant that asks God to grant us the knowledge to the hidden wisdom of music. Music being the universal language truly speaks to all mankind. There is no other form of expression that has this kind of power to move people in unbelievable ways. I’ve always said that my music comes from someplace beyond myself and I truly believe that.

(Paukû ‘ekahi)     (Verse #1)
Hilo, Hanakahi, i ka ua kani-lehua  Hilo, Hanakahi, rain rustling lehua
(E hana hou ka paukû ‘ekahi)   (Repeat Verse #1)

(Paukû ‘elua) (Verse #2)
Puna, paia’ala, i ka paia ‘ala i ka hala Puna, fragrant bowers, bowers fragrant with hala
(Paukû ‘ekohu) (Verse #3)
Ka’u, i ka makani, i ka makani kueho lepo Ka’u the wind, the dirt scattering wind

(Paukû ‘eha) (Verse 41)
Kona, i ke kai, i ke kai ma’oki’oki Kona, the sea, the streaked sea

(Paukû ‘elima) (Verse #5)
Kawaihae, i ke kai, i ke kai hawanawana `Kawaihae, the sea, the whispering sea

(Paukû ‘eono) (Verse #6)
Waimea, i ka ua, i ka ua, kipu’upu’u Waimea, the rain, the Kipu’upu’u rain

(Paukû ‘ehiku) (Verse #7)
Kohala, i ka makani, i ka makani ‘Apa’apa’a Kohala, the wind, the Apa’apa’a wind

(Paukû ‘ewalu) (Verse #8)
Hamakua, i ka pali, i ka pali lele koa’e Hamakua, the cliff, the tropic birds flying cliffs

(Paukû ‘eiwa)     (Verse #9)
Ha’ina ka puana, i ka ua kani-lehua  Tell the refrain, rain rustling lehua
(E hana hou ka paukû ‘eiwa)   (Repeat Verse #9)

HILO HANAKAHI
Makahiki was a time of harvest and a time of celebration. The Makahiki lasted four months and at this time the big chief would travel around the island of Hawaii to pay tribute to his people, to celebrate and also to collect taxes.. Taxes were paid by whatever one had to offer as a tax offering like for instance fish, taro ( a Hawaiian staple), livestock etc.. To me Makahiki. sounds more like a goodtime. This song names various places on the Big island of Hawaii and things for which they were noted: Hilo noted for it’s rain (I ka ua) and the rustling of the beautiful lehua flower. Puna is noted for the fragrant scent of the hala plant. Ka‘u for it’s dirt scattering wind (kamakani), Kona for it’s vast and deep blue sea (I ke kai) and so forth…if you’re looking for more check out the song book “Na Mele o Hawai‘I Nei” or go online to www.huapala.org

(Paukû ‘ekahi)       (Verse #1)
Hali’a ka mana’o i kai o Waikiki  I have fond memories of the beach at Waikiki
I laila i ‘ike ai i ka nohona beachboy  It is there that I learned the beachboy lifestyle
Ke kuhikuhi ia a ka makuakane   My father would point out to me

(Paukû ‘elua)      (Verse #2)
Na keiki he’e nalu ua piha akamai  All the best surfers and what made them so
He alahula ho’i ia wahi ‘ae kai   That shore was my old stomping ground
Ha’awina poina ‘ole ia na’u   Lessons which I’ll never forget

(Mele hui)      (Chorus)
E ‘ole ia a’o a’o ka makua   If not for the teachings of my dad
‘Ike au ia pono e pa’a nei, pa’a nei i loko      I would not have known this the value of these things that I still hold dear
(Hana hou)     ( Repeat Chorus)

(Paukû ‘ekolu)      (Verse #3)
Hali’a ka mana’o i ke kamali’i ‘ana  I have fond memories of my youth
I laila i ‘ike ai i ka nohona pili home  I learned the about the lifestyle of the home
Ka malama ‘ohana a ka makuahine  My mother would maintain the family

(Mele hui)       (Chorus)
E ‘ole ia a’o a’o ka makua   If not for the teachings of my mom
‘Ike au ia pono e pa’a nei, pa’a nei i loko      I would not have known this the value of these things that I still hold dear
(Hana hou)     ( Repeat Chorus)

(Uapo)        (Bridge)
Aloha no ia mau la ua hala   I truly miss those days as they have passed on
Hala pu no me na makua aloha   Passed on together with my beloved parents

NA MAKUA
This song is about my dad taking my brother and I to the beach to meet his friends, the beach boys. They taught me how to surf and respect the ocean. This song also talks
about my mom taking me to meet her friends the “lei makers”, down at the Aloha Tower on the Honolulu Harbor. They taught me “Aloha”, the spirit of love. My parents were amazing when I think about it. My Dad worked three jobs, but still had time to be with us. My Mom was a homemaker and the Worlds best cook. She could make anything taste good. I miss it. They took good care of us and always made each one of us feel special. This song is in honor of Kala and Annie Ka‘aihue, my parents.

(Paukû ‘ekahi)     (Verse #1)
Kûmaka ka `ikena iâ Hi`ilawe   All eyes are on Hi’ilawe
Ka papa lohi mai a`o Maukele (Hana hou) In the sparkling lowlands of Maukele (Repeat)
(E hana hou ka pauku‘ ekahi)   (Repeat Verse #1)

(Paukû ‘elua)     (Verse #2)
Pakele mau au, i ka mui manu   I escape all the birds
Hau wala`au nei puni Waipi`o   Chattering everywhere in Wai-pi’o

(Paukû ‘ekolu)     (Verse #3)
`A`ole nô wau e loa`a mai    I am not caught
Ahe uhiwai au, no ke kuahiwi   For I am the mist of the mountains

(Paukû ‘ehâ)     (Verse #4)
He hiwahiwa au na ka makua   I am the darling (a toy) of the parents
A he lei `â`î na ke kupuna    And a lei for the necks of the grandparents

(Paukû ‘elima)     (Verse #5)
No Puna ke `ala i hali `ia mai   The fragrance is wafted from Puna
Noho i ka wailele a`o Hi`ilawe    And lives at Hi’ilawe waterfall

(Paukû ‘eono)     (Verse #6)
Ha`ina `ia mai ana ka puana    Tell the refrain
Kûmaka ka `ikena iâ Hi`ilawe (Hana hou) All eyes are on Hi’ilawe (Reapeat)
(E hana hou ka pauku‘ eono)   (Repeat Verse #6)

HI’ILAWE
This is my wife’s favorite song and my favorite Hawaiian folklore. The legendary Hawaiian icon, Gabby Pahinui did this song and tore it up. His version is still my favorite. Depending on who you’re talking to or where you are there are different tales to this song. My favorite is about two young lovers. Their parents being the Chief and Chiefess of different villages were at war with each other and forbade the two to be together. To prove their undying love for each other and to be able to be together forever the two lovers leaped off the cliffs of Waipi’o valley on the Big Island of Hawaii. There are two waterfalls in Waipi’o valley that cascade into a single pond and then empties out into the ocean. It is said that these waterfalls called, “Hi’ilawe”, represent the two young lovers and their eternal love for each other. This song is for my wife Lezlee…in the Wild Hawaiian way.

(Paukû ‘ekahi)   (Verse #1)
`O kou aloha nô   Your love
Aia i ka lani   Is in heaven
A `o Kou `oia `i`o   And your truth
Hemolele ho`i, hemolele hoi So perfect
Hemolele ho`i   So perfect

(Paukû ‘elua)   (Verse #2)
Ko`u noho mihi `ana   I love in sorrow
A pa`ahao `ia    Imprisoned
`O `oe ku`u lama  You are the light
Kou nani ko`u ko`o   Your glory my support
Kou nani ko`u ko`o   Your glory my support

(Paukû ‘ekolu)   (Verse #3)
Mai nânâ `ino`ino   Behold not with malevolence
Nâ hewa o kânaka   The sins of man
Akä e huikala   But forgive
A ma`ema`e nô    And cleanse
A ma`ema`e nô    And cleanse

(Paukû ‘eha)   (Verse #4)
No laila e ka haku  And so, o lord
Ma lalo o kou `êheu   Beneath your wings
Kô mâkou maluhia   Be our peace
A mau aku no   Forever more
A mau aku no   Forever more
A mau aku no   Forever more

KE ALOHA O KA HAKU – QUEEN’S PRAYER
Queen Lili’uokalani wrote this song for her beloved niece Princess Ka’iulani while being imprisoned at I’olani Palace. The overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom was a real set back for we the Hawaiian people. As we study history we find that throughout time this has happened to many cultures all over the World. It doesn’t make it right, but it is what it is and life goes on. This is my favorite song because it shows me how much compassion and humility this woman, this great leader, had for her people and how in this time of dissention she was able to forgive those who betrayed her. What a courageous leader. This song ties it all up for me. To me she is saying, we cannot move forward if we cannot forgive. We cannot move forward if we do not cleanse ourselves of all resentment, animosity and anger. And we cannot move forward to realize what God has in store for us. This is my interpretation and as sure as I believe in Rainbows, I believe in the Queen’s Prayer.