Synopsis: This is a kanikau or lamentation chant written for Haunani-Kay Trask. It samples her writing, her poetry, and her speeches, all of which offer insight into her way of viewing the world. Her lectures had a profound effect on me, a child of 6, as I tagged along with my mom to her classes at the University of Hawaii.
No ke kumu o Hulilani
No ke kumu o Hulihonua
No ke kumu o Hanaumoku
Ke kumu enaena o Piilani
Ke Alii no ka puu kaua o Kauwiki
Enaena ka lani ia Owe
Ninau Kane ma laua o Kanaloa
I huakai aha kau e Kahai
I ka anapa ou e Kahikoluamea
He lau, he kini, he mano ke kino
Ou e Haumea nui a Keaiwaiwa
Ke kalohe akua i na Keiki
Moe moopuna no ia Haloa
Moe moopuna no ia Waia
Moe moopuna no ia Hinanalo
Moe Moopuna no ia Nanakahili
Moe moopuna ia Wailoa
He wahine akua kapu no Nuumehalani
E Haumea
Aia i kukulu o Kahikiku me Kahikimoe
Aia i Keapapanuu me Keapapalani
Aia hoi ha
I laila loa na maka o Hema
Lawe i ka unulau i ka ilio a Lono
O Laka o ka moo o Haloa i ka lani
He aloha mako
Hoohakuikui nakolokolo
Haehae i ka puuwai
Auwe kuu Kumu
I ka uka kanakaole o Mauna Kea
Lawe hanai ana i na mamo
I lei lehua me maile laulii,
Luuluu i ka uhiwai
Ua mae ko Lehua
Eloelo i ka honua a Kaneikaluhonua
Hoinana i ta Naueue
Kaapuni ko leo a puni ka honua
I ka muo mai a ka lehua-a
Aia i KaiwioPele ka hiolani
Lolii ana i ke au o Ku
Kaulilua i ke anu
Aia hoi i te tua motumotu ao Heeia
Walea ana oe me ke onaona
Kuu lei hulu mamo pili o ke anu
Ua a ka uila ai Kaneohe
Nopu ana oe i ke one
Me ka wela a Kaneloa
Aia i ka lani ke kuhao
Ka ua nihi ae ana i ka pali o Hanalei
Uluwehi ka luna i Lanihuli
Elo i ka ua Waahila – Lewa
Lawe no i ka lei awapuhi melemele ao Puowaina
E lele kapu ahi ana i ka hae a ka enemi
Mukiki ana oe i ka pua lehua a Niolopua i ke kapu
Ka makani hunehune e pahu ana i na kolea momona i Tahiti
Na lima olapa onaona o Waikiki
He iwa no e nihi ana i ka pali
Ominomino na maka o ka aina
I ka omou paa i ka puuwai
Nalohia oe i ke ehu kakahiaka
O oe e Haumea
E Poele
E Hiiaka
E Papa
E Waliinuu
E Namakaokahai
E Hina
E Hopoe
E Kahikoluamea
E Pele e
E Pelehonuamea e
E Peleaihonua e
Kue – Kue – Kue
A Amamalua ia o Amelika
Hele oe i ke ala hoi ole mai
Napoo ana oe ia Lehua ala
Aia hoi oe i ka paepae kapu a Manamana
Aloha no e kuu kumu
Auwe anuanu ou iwi hilo e.
E ho‘ouna ‘ia mai na ä leka iä mäua, ‘o ia ho‘i ‘o Laiana Wong a me Kekeha Solis ma ka pahu leka uila ma lalo nei:
>> kwong@hawaii.edu
>> rsolis@hawaii.edu
a i ‘ole ia, ma ke kelepona:
>> 956-2627 (Laiana)
>> 956-2627 (Kekeha)
This column is coordinated by Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawai‘i at Mänoa.