Eleile

Eleile - Words & Music by Kimo Keanu
I aloha ia uka ʻiuʻiu Hoʻolau kanaka i nā manu He nahele i pūia ke ʻala Ka liko o ka ʻawapuhi Hui: Lipolipo ka wai o Eleile Huʻihuʻi i ka noho a ka ʻohu I mehana i ka lau a ke aloha I ka pili ʻaoʻao ʻana iho No ka nani lau lāʻī ke aloha I ka hoʻihoʻi wai a ka liko Eia ka hoa aʻe kohu ai ē ʻO ka wahine o ka malu	Beloved is that distant upland Peopled by the birds A forest that is imbued with fragrance Where the gingers form their buds Chorus: Dark is the water of Eleile The cold dwelling place of the mist It is made warm by love That stood close at my side For the beauty of the ti leaves we love Closed into a bud by the water This is the suitable companion The woman of the clouds
Source: Johnny Noble’s Royal Collection of Hawaiian Songs - Eleile is a dark swirling pool on Maui also known as the water that returns the ti. It is customary to break a ti leaf stalk and throw it into the pool. As the water swirls, the leaves are unfurled, then pushed back into a long, tight bud. Translation by Mary Pukui. Hawaiian Text edited by Puakea Nogelmeier © 1928 John Noble, Rights throughout the world controlled by Miller Music Corp.