From the recording Kolu
Maunaleo
(Keali‘i Reichel and Puakea Nogelmeier)
On the surface, this mele is about a mountain on Maui’s north shore. The kaona (hidden meaning) is in praise of a beloved person, songwriter Reichel’s mother, “a cherished one, respected for power and strength, esteemed, treasured, touched by heaven.”
PERSONNEL
Paula Kauapalaukī Rudman – vocals
Jim Romano – slack key guitar and vocals
Pili Moreno – slack key guitar and vocals
Arrangement by Pūlama and Pili Moreno
Lyrics
He aloha nō ʻo Maunaleo
I lohia e ke kilihuna
Kohu ʻahuʻao no ka uka
He kamalani kamaehu kau i ka hano ē
He kamalei, kamahiwa pā i ka lani ē
Poʻohina i ka ʻohu kolo
Kāhiko no ka poli ʻolu
Apo ʻia e nā kualono
He hiʻina, hiʻialo, aloha ē
Hiʻipoli, hiʻilei, hiʻilani ē
Eia kuʻu lei aloha
No Maunaleo i ka nani
ʻOhuʻohu i ka Mālie
He kamalani kamaehu kau i ka hano ē
He kamalei, kamahiwa pā i ka lani ē
No Maunaleo ke aloha kū i ka laʻi ē
Aloha ē, aloha ē
Beloved indeed is Maunaleo
Sparkling in the light, wind-blown rain
A finely woven cloak for the highlands
A cherished one, respected for power and strength
Esteemed, treasured, touched by heaven
Capped by the silver of the rolling mists
An adornment for that gentle heart
Embraced by the surrounding ridges
One to hold close, to hold near, to love
One dear to the heart, precious, exalted
This is my garland of affection
For Maunaleo in its beauty
Glorified by the Mālie breeze
A cherished one, respected for power and strength
Esteemed, treasured, touched by heaven
For Mauanleo is the serenity of deep love
Beloved are you, beloved indeed