HE MELE NO DUKE KAHANAMOKU

Kaulana Hawaii a puni ke Ao,
Ia oe e Duke Kahanamoku;
Nau i alo aku na kai loa,
Pakipika me ka Atelanika;
Haalele mai oe i ke one hanau,
Maluna o ka mokuahi Honolulana;
Ike oe i ka nani o Maleka,
Ma neia hana he heihei au;
Ike oe i ka hau-oki o Kaleponi,
Me ka uluwehi o ka Ipuka Gula;

Haalele oe i ka nani o Kaleponi,
No na kulanakauhale o ka Hikina;
Peneselavania ame Nu Ioka,
No ke komo i ka hui Olimapika;
Ku’i mai ka lono puni Hawaii,
Ua lanakila oe Duke Kahanamoku;
He moho Au hoi no Ameria,
E paa i ka moto haneri-mita;
Heihei Au nui o ke Ao nei,
Kulanakauhale o Sekokahama.

Haalele i ke awa o Nu Ioka,
Maluna o ka mokuahi Finelana;
Me na hoaloha ilipuakea,
No na kaiaulu o Europa;
Ike oe i ka nani o Suedena,
Me ka Emepera o Perusia;
HIki mai i ka la hookuku,
Aha’i mai oe i ka lanakila;
He mohokaulana no ke ao nei,
Mahimahi hoi no ka Pakipika.

Ku aku oe imua o na ‘Lii,
Moi kane Moi wahine;
Me na hoomaikaiia ana mai,
No ka moho kaulana o ke Ao nei;
Loaa ia oe na medala,
A Hawaii e haaheo ai;
Ike puia hoi me Hawaii,
Ia oe e Duke Kahanamoku;
Hoike akuu oe i ko ke ao,
Ka haahaa ame ka paa rula.

Haalele aku oe ia Europa,
No ke ala huli hoi no Amerika;
Ike hou i ka nani o Maleka,
Hookipaia me ka hanohano nui;
Mai Nu Ioka a Kapalakiko,
Ke ala huli hoi i ka Aina;
Ike hou i ka nani o Kaleponi,
Hookipaia me ka hanohano loa;
Ka moho kaulana o ke Ao nei,
Ka mahimahi o ka Pakipika.

Haalele i ka uluwehi o Maleka,
Maluna o ka mokuahi Wilhelmina;
Hoi mai me ka lei o ka lanakila,
A Hawaii e lei mau ai;
Pili mai ka moku i ka uwapo,
Apoia aku me ke ohohia nui;
Ka moho kaulana o ke ao nei,
Ka mahimahi o ka Pakipika;
Hainaia mai ana ka puana,
E ola loihi o Duke Kahanamoku.

Hakuia e Leinaala, o ka Makani Apaapaa.

Kohala, Hawaii, Oct. 11, 1912.

[A SONG FOR DUKE KAHANAMOKU

Hawaii is renowned world around,
For you, O Duke Kahanamoku,
You faced the great seas,
The Pacific and the Atlantic,
You left your birth sands,
Aboard the steamer Honolulan,
You witnessed the beauty of America,
In this pursuit of swimming competitions,
You saw the icy cold of California,
And the verdure of the Golden Gate.

You left behind the beauty of California,
For the cities in the east,
Pennsylvania and New York,
To join the Olympic team,
The news reached all over Hawaii,
That you were victorious, O Duke Kahanamoku,
You are on the American Swimming team,
You hold the 100-meter record,
In the great Swimming Contest of the World,
In the City of Stockholm.

You left New York Harbor,
Aboard the steamer Finland,
With your fair-skinned friends,
For the cities of Europe,
You witnessed the beauty of Sweden,
And the Emperor of Persia,
The day of the contest arrived,
You took the victory,
The famed champion of the world,
Mahimahi* of the Pacific.

You stood before the Monarchs,
King and Queen,
While being congratulated,
For the famed champion of the World,
You received medals,
For which Hawaii is proud,
Recognized along with Hawaii,
You, O Duke Kahanamoku,
You show the people of the world,
Humility and decorum.

You left Europe,
On the return trip to America,
To see again the beauty of Maleka,
You were welcomed with great pomp,
From New York to San Francisco,
On the road back home,
You witnessed once more the beauty of California,
You were welcomed with much honor,
The famed champion of the World,
Mahimahi of the Pacific.

Leaving behind the verdure of America,
Aboard the steamship Wilhelmina,
Returning with the lei of victory,
Of which Hawaii will forever wear,
The ship touches the dock,
You were embraced with such enthusiasm,
The famed champion of the world,
Mahimahi of the Pacific,
Let the story be told,
Long live Duke Kahanamoku.

Composed by Leinaala, of the Apaapaa Wind.

Kohala, Hawaii, Oct. 11, 1912.]

*A mahimahi is a fish that is a fierce swimmer.

(Kuokoa, 10/18/1912, p. 5)