From the recording Kolu
Pūpū Hinuhinu
(Helen Desha Beamer and Nona Beamer)
This well-known lullaby, Shiny Shells, by two matriarchs of the Beamer ‘ohana, was inspired by Punalu‘u, a black sand beach on Hawai‘i Island. Helen Desha Beamer originally wrote the song in English for her granddaughter, Nona. Years later, in the 1950s, Nona, now herself a mother, composed the version in Hawaiian.
PERSONNEL
Paula Kauapalaukī Rudman – vocals
Jim Romano – slack key guitar and vocals
Arrangement by Pūlama
Lyrics
Pūpū hinuhinu
Pūpū hinuhinu ē
O ke kahakai, kahakai ē
Pūpū hinuhinu ē
Pūpū hinuhinu
Pūpū hinuhinu ē
E lohe kākou ē
Pūpū hinuhinu ē
Pūpū hinuhinu
Pūpū hinuhinu ē
E moe, e moe ē
Pūpū hinuhinu ē
Pūpū hinuhinu
Pūpū hinuhinu ē
E moe, e moe ē
E moe ē
Shiny shell
My shiny little shell
Found at the seashore
My shell, shiny shell
Shiny shell
My shiny little shell
Let us listen
My shell, shiny shell
Shiny shell
My shiny little shell
To sleep, now to sleep
My shell, shiny shell
Shiny shell
My shiny little shell
To sleep, now to sleep
To sleep, to sleep