KAWAI LANA MAUA.

Ka Pua Lilia ma ka Hikina

I ka lai no wau o ka palama
Kahi a na manu e pohai ana
Ke hana akawai epipii ana
Me he ala o kuu aloha kekahi

Akahi hoi au a ike maka
I ka hana a ka lio hapa kalakoa
Ko mai ke aloha pili me a’u
Ke ala huihui i ka puuwai

Na wai eole kou makemake
Ua kila paa ia e na lani
Ua nani oe e ka nalo meli
Ka pipili ka nanahe ikau pua

E kuhi ana wau ahe pono nei
Ka hana a ka manu ailaiki
Kiina i loaa eka n ulu [? Kiina i loaa e ka naulu]
E hoi mai oe pili me a’u

Uao kaua me ka hiehie
I ka wai ma puna lana malia
Lia aku wau ao ko nni [? Lia aku wau ao ko nani]
I lei kai mana no kuu kino.

Hea aku no wau o mai oe
E hoi mai oe pili me a’u
Haina ia mai ana ka pu ana
Kealoha kakia ika puuwai.

Haku ia keiki o Kaua Kanilehua

W. D. Kawailehua.

[Newspapers until their close were a place to publish mele of all sorts, whether it be mele aloha, ko’ihonua, kanikau, &c. If you are a composer or aspiring composer, this is one of the best places to study tradition, if you are interested in tradition.

Sometimes, the typesetters weren’t very careful, especially in the later years, and more so in some papers than in others. The word breaks in this mele by Hilo boy, William D. Kawailehua, are not very consistent, but well worth working out in your head.

(Aloha Aina, 6/27/1914, p. 4)

Ke Aloha Aina, Buke XIX, Helu 38, Aoao 4. Iune 27, 1914.