He mele Kilo Ua
Written & Composed by
Leiʻohu Chun
Hui
Piʻi mai ke kai
Heleleʻi ka ua
Kahe mau ke kahawai
Inū i ka wai
Ka wai ola a Kāne
Ola no nā mea a pau
Chorus
The ocean rises
The rain falls
The rivers continue to flow
Drink the waters
The life-giving waters of Kāne
Through (water) all life is sustained
Paukū ʻEkahi
He aha nā kilo o ka lā?
‘O ke kai
Ka muliwai
Ka wai
ʻoia nā kilo o ka lā!
Verse One
What are the observations of the day?
The ocean
The river mouth
The fresh water
These are the observations of the day!
Paukū ʻElua
He aha nā kilo o ka pule?
ʻO ke ao loa
Ao ʻōpua
lālahilewa
ʻoia nā kilo o ka pule!
Verse two
What are the observations of the week?
The Stratus cloud
The Cumulus cloud
The Cirrus cloud
These are the observations of the week!
uapo
E nānā mai
E hoʻolohe pono
He mele kama kilo kēia
bridge
Look here
Listen close
This is a song for the observant youth
Paukū ʻekolu
He aha nā kilo o ka mahina?
ʻO ka ua loku
Kilinoe
Ua koko
ʻoia nā kilo o ka mahina!
Verse Three
What are the observations of the month?
The dense pouring rain
The fine mist
The rainbow-tinted rain
These are the observations of the month!
Paukū ʻEhā
He aha nā kilo o ka makahiki?
ʻO ke kahawai
lokowai
punawai
ʻoia nā kilo o ka makahiki!
Verse Four
What are the observations of the year?
The rivers
The ponds
The Springs
These are the observations of the year!
Hui
Piʻi mai ke kai
Heleleʻi ka ua
Kahe mau ke kahawai
Inū i ka wai
Ka wai ola a Kāne
Ola no nā mea a pau
Chorus
The ocean rises
The rain falls
The rivers continue to flow
Drink the waters
The life-giving waters of Kāne
Through (water) all life is sustained
Hui! Aloha e nā keiki, nā pua, ame nā mākua , nā aʻa, o kēia wahi paeʻāina. ʻEiʻa kekahi mele kilo i haku ʻia no nā alakaʻi hou o kēia lāhui e aʻo aku iā lākou pehea e ulu ma nā hana kilo, a e hoʻokamaʻāina iā lākou i ko lākou ʻāina, kai, makani, ame ua. Wahi a kekahi mau kānaka, o nā poʻe Hawaiʻi nā poʻe ʻepekema mua o nei paeʻāina, me ʻia manaʻo, o ke kumu o kēia mele ka paipai ʻana i kekahi hanauna hou o nā kānaka ʻepekema aloha ʻāina. Mahalo! ~Leiʻohu
Hui! Aloha to our keiki, the flowers and to our parents, the roots of this archipelago. Here I present an observational song for the new leaders of our nation to help them grow in observational practices and to build their relationships with, and understanding of, their natural resources. Many say that Hawaiians were the first scientists in these islands. My hope is to encourage a new generation of indigenous scientists in perpetuity. Thank you! ~Leiʻohu