From the recording Kolu
Aloha Nō Kalākaua
(Amy Hanaiali‘i, Willie Kahaiali‘i, and Lilikalā Kame‘eleihiwa)
The hula, mainstay of native Hawaiian culture and spirituality, was driven underground by Christian missionaries in the early 19th century. This is a mele of thanks to King David Kalākaua, who revived the hula during his reign from 1874 to 1891. Aloha nō means “great love.”
PERSONNEL
Paula Kauapalaukī Rudman – vocals
Jim Romano – slack key guitar and vocals
Pili Moreno – rhythm guitar and vocals
Arrangement by Pūlama and Pili Moreno
Lyrics
I aloha ʻia, ē ka mōʻī
Hanohano nō ia
E ka lehulehu o Hawaiʻi
Aloha nō Kalākaua
Kauoha ʻo ia, ē ke Aliʻi
I ka hoʻihoʻi o ka hula
Aʻo ka hula no ka ʻōiwi
Konikoni pauʻole i ka puʻuwai
HUI
Uluhia wau i ka haliʻa
O Hiʻiaka haʻa i ka ua
ʻO ka ua noenoe o Kanilehua
Hoʻopulu i ka pūnāwai a ke Aliʻi
ʻAkahi nō wau ke nonoi
E hula ana ma kou alo
Mahalo wale ē ke Aliʻi
Aloha nō Kalākaua
Beloved is the King
Honored indeed
By the people of Hawaiʻi
So beloved is Kalākaua
The king commanded
The return of hula
For the native
Hula beats forever in the heart
CHORUS
I am filled with the longing
Of Hiʻiaka dancing in the rain
The misty rain of Kanilehua
Drenched in the royal springs
My one request is
To dance in your presence
In gratitude, oh chief
So beloved is Kalākaua