[Found under: “La Hanau o ka Moi ma Honolulu.”]

1 Hawaii Ponoi
Nana i  kou Moi
Ka Lani Alii
Ke ‘Lii.

Hui:—Makua Lani e
KAMEHAMEHA e
Na kaua i pale
Me ka Ihe.

2 Hawaii Ponoi
Nana i na ‘Lii
Na pua kau muli,
Na pokii.

Hui:—Makua, &c., &c.

3 Hawaii Ponoi
E ka Lahui e
O kau hana nui
E u-i e.

Hui:—Makua, &c., &c.

(Kuokoa, 11/21/1874, p. 1)

[This mele, “Kamehameha,” was sung at the birthday celebration in 1874 for King Kalakaua, the composer of this song. Right off we can see a number of differences in what many sing today. But isn’t this true for mele in general, variants and additions abound. Moolelo as well; can there be just one version? What makes one less true or valid than the other? Perhaps once a song or story is set free, it takes upon it a life of its own?]

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XIII, Helu 47, Aoao 1. Novemaba 21, 1874.