Aloha Oe: Queen Liliuokalani

“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.

—

Aloha Oe

HaÊ»aheo ka ua i nā pali — Proudly swept the rain by the cliffs
Ke nihi aÊ»ela 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 Ê»oe, aloha Ê»oe — 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 hoÊ»i aÊ»e au — ‘Ere I depart
Until we meet again — Until we meet again

Ê»O ka haliÊ»a aloha i hiki mai — Sweet memories come back to me
Ke hone aÊ»e nei i — Bringing fresh remembrances
KuÊ»u manawa — Of the past
Ê»O Ê»oe nō kaÊ»u ipo aloha — Dearest one, yes, you are mine own
A loko e hana nei — From you, true love shall never depart

Maopopo kuÊ»u Ê»ike i ka nani — I have seen and watched your loveliness
Nā pua rose o Maunawili — The sweet rose of Maunawili
I laila hiaÊ»ia nā manu — And ’tis there the birds of love dwell
MikiÊ»ala 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.