“Aloha Oe” by Queen Lili’uokalani”
Mitchell tells me “oe” is the equivalent of “y’all.” Aloha means hello and goodbye and I love you and probably many, many more things. Here, the song is traditionally translated as “Farewell to Thee.”
Here is a new take on the song by Grammy nominated artist Amy Hanaiali from the album Nostalgia produced by Jon de Mello for the Mountain Apple Company.
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Aloha Oe
Haʻaheo ka ua i nā pali — Proudly swept the rain by the cliffs
Ke nihi aʻela i ka nahele — As it glided through the trees
E hahai (uhai) ana paha i ka liko — Still following ever the bud
Pua ʻāhihi lehua o uka — The ʻāhihi lehua of the vale
Hui: Chorus:
Aloha ʻoe, aloha ʻoe — Farewell to you, farewell to you
E ke onaona noho i ka lipo — The charming one who dwells in the shaded bowers
One fond embrace, — One fond embrace,
A hoʻi aʻe au — ‘Ere I depart
Until we meet again — Until we meet again
ʻO ka haliʻa aloha i hiki mai — Sweet memories come back to me
Ke hone aʻe nei i — Bringing fresh remembrances
Kuʻu manawa — Of the past
ʻO ʻoe nō kaʻu ipo aloha — Dearest one, yes, you are mine own
A loko e hana nei — From you, true love shall never depart
Maopopo kuʻu ʻike i ka nani — I have seen and watched your loveliness
Nā pua rose o Maunawili — The sweet rose of Maunawili
I laila hiaʻia nā manu — And ’tis there the birds of love dwell
Mikiʻala i ka nani o ka lipo — And sip the honey from your lips
Here is some fun news about and a video tribute to the composer.
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