From the recording The Song Within the Song

Ē Ku‘u Sweet Lei Poina‘ole / E Maliu Mai
(Emma De Fries / Irmgard Farden ‘Āluli)

These songs, E- Ku‘u Sweet Lei Poina‘ole (“My Sweet Unforgettable Lei”) and E Maliu Mai (“Hear My Call”), were among the first songs we played together. They immediately became our favorites and our most requested songs. These were defining moments for us, knowing that we were meant to be making music together.

PERSONNEL
Paula Kauapalaukī Rudman – vocals
Jim Romano – slack key guitar and vocals

Arrangement by Pūlama

Lyrics

1. Ē Kuʻu Sweet Lei Poina ʻOle

Ē kuʻu sweet lei poina ʻole ʻeā
Lei nani i ka wēkiu
Ē never fading bloom ia ʻoe ʻeā
Ē kuʻu sweet lei poina ʻole ʻeā

Kuʻu pua kuʻu lei nani mae ʻole ʻeā
Ke ola mau loa e kuʻu lei
Ke kali aku nei iāʻoe ʻeā
E hoʻi mai kāua lā e pili

Ē kuʻu sweet lei poina ʻole ʻeā

My sweet, unforgettable lei
The most beautiful of all
You are never fading
My sweet, unforgettable lei

My flower, my beautiful never fading lei
This lei is my life, my soul
I wait for you
Return and let us be together

My sweet, unforgettable lei

2. E Maliu Mai

E maliu mai ē kuʻu ipo
Me ke aloha pumehana

E maliu mai ē kuʻu ipo
Me ke aloha lei makamae

HUI
Koʻu ʻiʻini naʻu ʻoe
Me kou leo nahenahe

Please heed my voice, oh my beloved
With all your warm affection

Come close to me, my beloved
With your love, like a precious lei

CHORUS
My desire is that you be mine
With your soft, gentle voice