Pua Kukui - by Mekia Kealakai

ʻAuhea wale ana ʻoe
Ē ka liko pua kukui
Kuhi au o ka ʻono iʻa
A ke puʻu aʻe moni nei

Piʻikoi kahi manaʻo
I ka pili koʻolua ia
Eia ka kaula lopi āna
Hei kō puʻuwai kapalili

ʻAuhea wale ana ʻoe
E ua wāhi huapala nei
Mai piʻi hou mai ʻoe
O loaʻa pono kāua

Kulanalana ka makuʻu
I ka noho i ka lio
Mōlio ke kaula ʻili
I ka lae o ka pipi ohi

Loaʻa aku ʻoe iaʻu
I ka welelau o ka lima
Hei ʻoe ka`u kīpuka
E ka pipi hoʻokahi kiwi

Ma kuʻu poli mai ʻoe
Naʻu ʻoe honehone aku
Haʻina mai ka puana
E ua wāhi huapala nei

Harken now to me
O budding kukui blossom
My thoughts are of something tasty
That the throat desires to swallow

Hope begins to mount
When there is constant companionship
Here now is my fine lariat
To catch your fluttering heart

Listen here to me
O sweetheart of mine
Don`t you mount again
Or we`ll be caught

The pommel is tilting
On the saddle of the horse
Draw tight the rope
On the brow of the yearling

You're caught by me at last
By the tips of the fingers
Caught now in my loop
The one-horned bull

Come to my arms, you
You are mine, come my sweet
Telling the refrain
O sweetheart of mine

Source: Noble's "Hawaiian Hulas" © 1931 John Noble - Translator unknown