AN OLD MELE

This is the response from Kaahumanu when Namahana, her mother, told the alii that men were easy to get.

Kaahumanu was saddened when Kamehameha was taken by Kaheiheimalie, her younger sister, and she responded to her mother this way:

O ke kane ka mea aloha
Pau ke aho a’u e hoohaehae luhi e,
Luhi ia oe he hoa manu e ie
He manu la Keoloewa i ka lai
Ka haale o Waialeale i ka lani
Ka lipolipo o Haupu i ke koolau
Nu iho la i ke kula o Kaholele
Lele ka hanu pua kukui i ka makani
I ke kipaku o ke koolau wahiki
O kai ka ohana pua i Wailua
He ilina na ka puahau i ka lehua wehe
E wehe wale no oe i ka hihia ua paa,
E ole e hemo ai kuli kealoha
Aia a wahawaha Lono i kau e.

(Hoku o Hawaii, 5/3/1927, p. 1)

Ka Hoku o Hawaii, Buke XX, Helu 49, Aoao 1. Mei 3, 1927.