A Kona Hema ʻO Ka Lani (The King At South Kona) - Traditional
Click Title to Access Melody A Kona Hema ʻo ka lani Nānā iā Kaʻawaloa ʻIke i ka laʻi a ʻEhu Ehuehu ʻoe e ka lani Ka helena aʻo Hawaiʻi Mālamalama nā moku Ahuwale nā kualono ʻIke ʻia ka pae ʻōpua E kukū ana i ke kai I ke kai hāwanawana ʻŌlelo ʻo Kawaihae Hae ana e ka nāulu Ka makani hele uluulu Kū ka eʻa i ka moana Ka moana o Māhukona Ka makani ʻĀpaʻapaʻa Lēʻī mai ʻo Kohala I ka nuku nā kānaka Haʻina mai ka puana ʻO ka lani Kaulīlua	At South Kona, the king Observes Kaʻawaloa Knows the peace of ʻEhu Majestic are you, o king Going to Hawaiʻi To take care of the districts In plain view the mountaintops Seen are the cloud banks   At mid-tide on the sea On the whispering sea Speaking of Kawaihae Stirred by the sudden shower   The wind increases The sea rises The sea of Māhukona The wind named ʻĀpaʻapaʻa   Crowded is Kohala To the mouth with people Tell the theme The royal Kaulīlua
Source: Edwina Kanoho - This ancient chant, set to music, praises the Kona and Kohala districts of the island of Hawaiʻi and was dedicated to King Kalākaua, also known as Kaulīlua. Ehu was a chief famous for his peacful reign and also the ancient name of a land district in South Kona. Kaʻawaloa is a village in Honaunau, Kawaihae and Māhukona are villages in the Kohala area. ʻĀpaʻapaʻa is the strong wind from Kohala, the northwest district of Hawaiʻi. The last verse, Lēʻī mai ʻo Kohala i ka nuku (Kohala is crowded at the mouth) is part of a military intelligence report from Pupukea to Kamalalawalu, the Maui leader. The understanding was that all of the people had gone to the harbor mouth leaving that section unprotected. Kamalalawalu invaded the island, but was defeated. Translation by Noelani Mahoe, Hawaiian Text edited by Puakea Nogelmeier