Hoku - Keli'i Tau'a and David Kauahikaua

H1 Hōkū
H2 One Arm Paddler
H3 Dream Maile
H4 Kamohoaliʻi
H5 I Am Kana
H6 Hauola
H7 Koʻi
H8 Hulo Ka Haku Nui
H9 Kupeʻe Kuikawa
H10 The Sailing Samurai
H11 Aloha Manu O Ku
H12 Wahi Kaulana
H13 Inu I Ka Awa
H14 Christmas On Hōkūleʻa
H15 ʻElua Māua

VIEW LYRICS and TRANSLATIONS

Keli'i Tauʻā & David Kauahikaua
Released: September 2009

Hawaiʻi’s sailing canoe Hōkūleʻa has been a valuable floating resource center to learn and reconnect to the ancient art of wayfinding and celestial navigation coupled with a multitude of cultural practices that lay dormant for centuries. The oral culture of which Hawaiians passed their history through oli (chants) and moʻolelo (stories) was one form of practice that was fading rapidly. We the creators of this project are pleased to be able to contribute and continue to haku mele (compose) the mea huna noʻeau (culture) in our mother tongue.

Hōkū
by Keliʻi Tauʻā & David Kauahikaua

Hōkūleʻa has always been a star in the heavens and man brought it to the ocean and through this hānau (birth) came the connection of ʻohana(family) of sailing canoes with baby waʻa Moʻolele in Lahaina, Hawaiʻiloa at the Bishop Museum and Makaliʻi on the island of Hawaiʻi. Together, they formed a nucleus to inspire other canoes to be built on each of the islands of Hawaiʻi using some of the stars mentioned in the chorus to navigate and continue to be a lama (light, symbol) for all Hawaiʻi. Hail to the stars Hōkūleʻa (Star of Gladness) Hōkūloa (Morning or Long Star), and Hōkūpaʻa (North Star). We dedicate this musical CD to the stars.

Hōkūleʻa au, i ka lani
Ala i ka pō hoʻomaha i ke ao
Nohona i ka pō me ke ao
Pā mai ka lama i ka lani

Hōkūleʻa au, i ke kai
He waʻa kaulua ʻo Hawaiʻi
Holo puni i ka pakipika
Pā mai ka lama i ke kai

Hui:
Hōkūleʻa Hōkūloa Hōkūpaʻa
Nā hōkū i ka lani, ke kai a honua
Hōkūleʻa Hōkūloa Hōkūpaʻa
Pā kōnane i ka lani, ke kai a honua
Honua, e hoku

Hōkūleʻa au, i ka honua
Ka hōʻailona o ka Lahui
Aloha mākou i kou mana
Pā mai ka lama i ka honua

Hui:

I am Hōkūleʻa in the heavens
Wakening in the nite resting in the day
Existing nite and day
Shining radiantly in the heaven

I am Hōkūleʻa in the sea
A double hull canoe of Hawaiʻi
Traveling throughout the pacific
Shining torch on the sea

Chorus:
Hōkūleʻa Hōkūloa Hōkūpaʻa
The stars in the sky, sea and earth
Hōkūleʻa Hōkūloa Hōkūpaʻa
Shine your brilliance in the sky, sea & earth

I am Hōkūleʻa on the earth
The symbol of the Hawaiian nation
We love your spirit
Shining light on the earth

Chorus:

One Arm Paddler
by Keliʻi Tauʻā & David Kauahikaua

Several years ago, an avid big wave surfer and canoe man from Hawaiʻi named Tiger Esperitus was attracted by the culture and lifestyle of Japan so he moved to the "Land of the Rising Sun". He decided to reside at a very spiritual community called Kamakura where he quickly made friends with surfers and canoe people and organized the community to build a sailing canoe ala Hōkūleʻa. He prematurely passed but left his mana of Kika(Tiger) with his Kamakura ʻohana. His one armed brother named Lui joined Hōkūleʻaʻs recent visit to Kamakura. Upon landing, Lui raised his one arm to the sky shouting, "A pae, a pae Kamakura" as the rest of Tigerʻs hanai (adopted) family of surfers, canoe men, and dancers responded in unison, "A pae, a pae, a pae Kamakura." (Landed, the canoe has landed at Kamakura).

Holo aku ka waʻa kaulua
A pae iho i Kamakura
Me ka mana o Kika
Ea heh ea

Hui:
A Pae, a pae i Kamakura
ʻUwā kekahi kanaka kuikawa
A pae, a pae i kani ke kanaka
Ke kāne me ka lima hoʻokahi
A pae, a pae

Heahea ka poʻe o Kamakura
Me kekahi mau waʻa kiakahi
A me na papa heʻe nalu nui
Ea heh ea

Hui:

Ua kani ka pū mai ka Hōkūleʻa
A pane mai ka leo no ka ʻāina
Hana ka hula me ka aihaʻa Kamakura
Ea heh ea

Hui:

Haʻina ia mai ana kapuana
A pae Hōkūleʻa i Kamakura
A ke kāne me ka lima hoʻokahi
Ea heh ea

Hui:

The double-hull canoe sailed
And landed at Kamakura
With the mana (power) of Tiger

Chorus:
Landed, the canoe at Kamakura
A special man shouted
Landed, the paddler shouted
Brother Lui with one arm saluting his brother

The Kamakura people responded
With single-hull canoes
And a host of many surfers

Chorus:

The conch trumpets from Hōkūleʻa rang
The trumpet voices of the land responded
Followed by hula, aihaʻa and chant

Chorus:

Thus is the story
Of the Hōkūleʻa landing at Kamakura
With the one arm paddler

Chorus:

Dream Maile
by Keliʻi Tauʻā & David Kauahikaua

The song was written from the eyes of two sisters Maile (3 yrs) and Leilani (2yrs) who went to the pier at Yokohama to witness a once in a lifetime historical event for them of a Hawaiian sailing vessel landing on their Japan shores. Hula, chants, and songs accompanied the Royal Order of Kamehameha, Hawaiian conches and loud horns from large ships & the port protocol greeted the ʻStar of Gladnessʻ. Tears of joy flowed freely from the overwhelming crowd that came to greet the waʻa kaulua (double-hull canoe) and its heroes of the sea supporting the established theme, "One Ocean, One People." It was a proud moment to chant them into the harbor just like the day Master Kaʻupena Wong, Doctor Kalena Silva and myself Doctor Keliʻi Tauʻā launched the canoe in the 1970ʻs at Kualoa Park, Oʻahu.

Ka mea nana na moe o Maile
Ua moe ʻoia i kekahi waʻa kaulua
Pane mai o Leilani, ʻaʻole moeʻuhane
Ua ʻike pū ia i holo i ko maua ʻone hānau

ʻO Hōkūleʻa ka waʻa kupaianaha
Holo ʻoia i ka uapo o Yokohama
Ua lawe mai hou ka moe o ka moʻi
E hoʻohui me ka ʻaina o ka lā ke ala mai nei

Hui:
Kani leʻa ka meʻe o ka waʻa,
Hauʻoli nā meʻe o ke kai
Kani kela hoʻokahi ka moana,
Kani keia hoʻokahi ka poʻe honua

Ua hele maua, e ʻike paena waʻa
Hoʻopa ka makani, malua me puʻulena
ʻAʻole i piliwi ʻia ka nani o Hōkūleʻa
Me na mea waʻa, na meʻe o ke kai

Hui:

Aia o Yokuzuna Akebono, like me Kalākaua
ʻElua kanaka manomano, i hele a ʻike ai

Eia ka puana a ka moe,
Mai na keiki makaʻala
ʻIke ia Hoʻokahi ka moana,
Hoʻokahi poʻe o ka honua

Hui:
Kani leʻa ka meʻe o ka waʻa,
Hauʻoli nā meʻe o ke kai
Kani kela hoʻokahi ka moana,
Kani leʻaleʻa nui loa
Kēia hoʻokahi ka poʻe honua

They say Maile Chan is a dreamer
She dreamt of a very special sailing vessel
Her younger sister Lei proclaimed itʻs not a dream
I saw it too sail into the land of our birth

Hōkūleʻa is the extraordinary vessel
That sailed into Yokohama harbor
It carried the dream of King Kalākaua
To join with the land of the Rising Sun

Chorus:
Singing joyfully, heroes of the canoe,
Heroes of the sea
Singing that theme ʻOne oceanʻ,
This theme ʻOne peopleʻ

We went to see the canoe landing
Touched by the sea breeze cold wind of Kilauea
I couldnʻt believe the beauty of the ʻStar of Gladnessʻ
With the sailors, the heroes of the sea

Chorus:

There is Akebono like Kalākaua
Two people, one in person other in spirit came to see

Hereʻs a story
From the eyes of two children
Seeing one ocean,
One people

Chorus:
Singing joyfully, heroes of the canoe,
Heroes of the sea
Singing that theme ʻOne oceanʻ,

This theme ʻOne peopleʻ

Kamohoaliʻi

Kimo Hugo, one of the original crew members, builder, historian, Kamehameha classmate, first resource person who told me lots of stories, and all-around good Bradda, told me about this shark god that he saw during the early training on the canoe up at Hawaiʻi Island. The King of the sea looked as long as the canoe. The name of this Aumakua Kamohoaliʻi ties back to Peleʻs elder brother with the same name who traveled with her when she came to Hawaiʻi. The accompanying chant is dedicated to the Luaʻehu ʻohana.

CHANT:
Akahi ka mano, puka mai ka mano
ʻAlua ka mano, ʻea mai ka mano
ʻAkolu ka mano, puka mai ka mano
ʻAha ka mano, ʻea mai ka mano
Lima ka mano, puka mai ka mano
Ono ka mano, ʻea mai ka mano
Hiku ka mano, puka mai ka mano
Walu ka mano, ʻea mai ka mano
ʻAiwa ka mano, puka mai ka mano
O lele-hauli, o ka iʻa kele ʻau moku
O ka hauli o ka iʻa Keleʻahana
O Kane ma lāua o Kanaloa
Ea Ku-hai-moana, ka iʻa i ke ale
Puka Ku iʻa me ka iʻa papani moku
Ea mai Luaʻehu, ka iʻa kanaka mea
Kapaʻi a Ku, kapaʻi a Lono
Ea kini o ke kua, ka mano o ke kua
E - O Luaʻehu a me Kamohoaliʻi

SONG:
By Keliʻi Tauʻā & David Kauahikaua

Hui:
Kamohoaliʻi ka moʻi o ke kai
Kamohoaliʻi ka hoa o Hōkūleʻa

Kaulana o Kamohoaliʻi
Like me ka moʻi o ke kai
Ke kahiapo o ka Wahine
He punahele o ke kupua

Hui:

Hele mai ʻoia me ka waʻa
Mai Kahiki i Hawaiʻi nei
Hāʻina ia mai ana ka puana
Kamohoaliʻi ka moʻi o ke kai

Hui:

One shark, the shark comes forth
Two sharks, the sharks appear
The third shark, the third shark comes forth
The fourth shark, the sharks appear
The fifth shark, the fifth shark comes forth
The sixth shark, the sharks appear
The seventh shark, the seventh shark comes forth
The eight shark, the sharks appear
The ninth shark, the ninth shark comes forth
Greatly stirred is the fish that swims all around the islands
The spirit of the fish Keleʻahana that swims
Kane and Kanaloa
Arose Ku-hai-moana, the fish in the ocean waves
That came with schools, that hid from view the island
Arose Luaʻehu the fish like a man with reddish skin
Kapaʻi of Ku, of Lono
Arose the 40,000 deity, the 4,000 deity
Hail to Luaʻehu and Kamohoaliʻi

Chorus:

Famous is Kamohoaliʻi
Like the ruler of the sea
The elder brother of Pele
A favorite of the demi-goddess

Chorus:

He came with the family
From Kahiki to Hawaiʻi
Thus is the story
Kamohoaliʻi the king of the sea

Chorus:

I Am Kana
by Keliʻi Tauʻā & David Kauahikaua

Kana Uchino was the native Japanese female sailor on the Hōkūleʻa who sailed on the voyage to Yokohama, Japan from Hawaiʻi. She has been working at the Bishop Museum in the Oceanography department and had been training with the Polynesian Voyaging Society for several years before this voyage. Mahalo Kana chan.

ʻO wau o Kana
Hānai keiki wahine
O ka waʻa kaulua

ʻO wau o Kana
Hina o kuʻu ʻaina
Ma ka waʻa kaulua

Hui:
Holo i ke kai
Holo o Ka Iʻa
Holo i kuʻu ʻaina, ʻaina hānau o Nipoa

ʻO wau o Kana
Holo i ka pakipika
Me ka waʻa kaulua

ʻO wau o Kana
Puana i keia mele
I ka waʻa kaulua

Hui:

I am Kana
Adopted female child
Of the double-hull canoe

I am Kana
Hina (Mother) of my land
On the double-hull canoe

Chorus:
Sailing on the sea
Of Kai Holo o Ka Iʻa
Sailing towards the land of my birth

I am Kana
Sailing on the pacific
With the double-hull canoe

I am Kana
Refrain of this song
On the double-hull canoe

Chorus:

Hauola
by Keliʻi Tauʻā & David Kauahikaua

Voyaging canoes make a practice of taking pōhaku (stones) as gifts to the places they visit. We sing about a famous Hauola stone located in Lahaina town Maui is one famous stone that we pay homage.

Ke noho nei kekahi pohaku ʻano nui
I ka pilikahakai ma ke kai koʻele
Noho ke aliʻiwahine i ka pohaku kapu
He manaʻolana ke loaʻa mai ka pōmaikaʻi

Hui:
Hauola ka inoa o ka wahine
Hauola wahine loli i ka pohaku
Hauola he makana no ka waʻa
Hauola e ho’oloa ke ola ho’oloa Hōkūleʻa

ʻAʻole maopopo nā poʻe nunui o ke kahua
Aiʻole ka mea nui no ka lāhui o Hawaiʻi nei
Ukua kākau kēia iloko o ka puke moʻolelo
ʻĀno pono nō e paʻa i loko o nā puʻuwai

Hui:

Haʻina ʻia mai ana kapuana la
O kēia mele e pili ana Hauola i Lahaina

There is a very important stone
That sits close to shore in shallow waters
The woman of royal blood sat on the stone
Believing that they would be blessed

Chorus:
Hauola the name of a woman
Hauola who changed into a birthing stone
Hauola stone used for bearing of chiefs
Hauola brings long life and good health

Many people donʻt know the stoneʻs location
Or the importance of it to the Hawaiians
It is written in the history books
Now it needs to be printed in the hearts

Chorus:

Thus is the story
Of this song of Hauola found in Lahaina

Koʻi
by Keliʻi Tauʻā & David Kauahikaua

One of the most important ancient tools of the Hawaiians was the Koʻi. The koʻi cut, carved and shaped Hawaiʻiʻs stone-age civilization progressing up to the incoming of newcomers to the Hawaiian Islands. Recent information by archeologists have confirmed some of the oldest Hawaiian legends regarding long distance voyages throughout the Pacific.

E moe koke e ke Ko'i
Ko'i kua kani wahie
E ho'olu'u ke ko'i i ke kai
Ko'i lo'u kani wahie

Hui:
E ala e ala e ala e
E ala i hana no Kane
E ala e ala e ala e
E ala i hana no Kane

E ho'omaka ke kalai
Ko'i kīkoni kani wahie
E – o e nā ko'i like 'ole
Kani kani, kani ka wahie

Hui:

CHANT:
‘O makou ke kanaka
He lala ʻO MAUI HAWAIʻI ‘AHAHUI ‘OIHANA KĀLEPA
E hui pū ʻia i ka hana pono me ke aloha nui loa
E lawe mai kēia hōʻailona me ka mana o ke akua, nā aumakua
Nā kupuna, nā mākua, a me nā kākoʻi
E ala mai e koʻi e ala mai
E ala mai e koʻi e ala mai
E ala mai e koʻi e ala mai
E ala i hana no Kane e - o

Sleep quietly Ko'i
Hewing adze ringing as it hews(cuts)
Dip the ko'i into the sea
Reversible adze ringing as it cuts

Chorus:
Awake, Awake, Awake
Awake and work for Kane
Awake, Awake, Awake
Awake and work for Kane

Begin to hew
Little adze ringing as it cuts
Hail to the various adzes
Ringing singing ring as it cuts

Chorus:

We are
The members of the Maui Hawaiian Chamber of Comerce
United to do good works with much aloha
And take this symbol (KOʻI) w/the mana of Akua, nā aumakua, nā kupuna, nā makua, & koʻi makers
Wake up koʻi awake
Wake up koʻi awake
Wake up koʻi awake
Awake koʻi and do the work of Kane

Kupeʻe Kuikawa
by Keliʻi Tauʻā & David Kauahikaua

In the recent sailing trip to the Satuwal Islands of Micronesia where Master Navigator Mau Pialug resides, a sacred ceremony was conducted by the Master in providing sacred coral wristlets that had been adorned in the past to honor navigators who had learned the art of wayfinding, a term used for navigators who have mastered the art of navigating utilizing Godʻs natural creations such as the stars, moon, waves etc. Kau ke kupeʻe, start wearing the kupeʻe.

Hui:
Kau ke kupeʻe, kupeʻe kuikawa
E lawe me nā mea maikaʻi e
Kau ke kupeʻe, kupeʻe koʻakoʻa
E lawe mai nā mea maikaʻi e

Malama i nā poʻe Hoʻokele
O ka waʻa kaulua Hōkūleʻa
Na Mau nā mea e hoʻohanohano ea

Hui:

Ua holo a hoʻi mai i ka maluhia
Hōʻike mai ko lākou hana noʻeau
Like me nā kupuna o ka wā i hala
Lawe mai ka hana i ka wa mua ea

Hui:

He mele no kēia no kupeʻe kuikawa
Na Mau i haʻawi i nā hoʻokele hou
E–o nā hoʻokele, e-o kupeʻe kuikawa ea

MELE KUPEʻE CHANT
Aʻala kupukupu ka uka o Kanehoa e Ho-a
Hoa na lima o ka makani, he Waikaloa
He Waikaloa ka makani anu Lihue
Alina lehua i kau ka opua kuʻu pua e
Kuʻu pua iʻini e ku-i a lei
Ina ia ʻoe ke lei a mai la

Chorus:
The bracelet is worn, special kupeʻe
Bringing all good things to the navigator
Adorned by the sacred coral bracelet
That brings blessings, care and honor

Care for the navigators
Of the double-hull canoe Hōkūleʻa
By Mau they are all honored

Chorus:

Sailed and returned safely
Showing their navigational skills
Like the ancestors of the past
Bring forth the great works to the future

Chorus:

This is a song for the sacred kupeʻe
By Mau was given to the new navigators
Hail navigators, hail to the sacred coral wristlet

Hulō Ka Haku Nui
by Keliʻi Tauʻā & David Kauahikaua

Hail to Mau Pialug the great navigator, teacher, sailor and the most valuable friend of sailing canoes. With his guidance, he unknowingly brought about an entire sailing and cultural revival for the Hawaiian Nation and many other countries that followed. This humble musical piece is in honor of the great navigator, Hulo ka Haku.

Hui:
Hulō ka haku ʻoi aku ka haku nui
Hulō ka haku ʻo Mau ka haku nui
Hulō ka haku ʻoi aku ka haku nui
Hulō ka haku ʻo Mau ka haku nui

Ua hoʻokaʻana kona makana
Ka makana hoʻokele waʻa e nā hōkū

Hui:

Ano ua aʻo a hoʻolalelale ia Nainoa
ʻO Nainoa ka mea i hoʻokaʻana mau ka ʻike

Hui:

Ua holo ka waʻa hou o Maisu ia haku
Chad P, Chad B, Shorty a me Bruce nā hoʻokele

Hui:

Hāʻina kapuana o ka moʻolelo hiwahiwa
ʻO Mau ka Haku Nui he kanaka no ka ʻoi

Hui:

Chorus:
Hail to the master the greatest of all
Hail to the master Mau Pialug the greatest one of all
Hail to the master the greatest of all
Hail to the master Mau Pialug the greatest one of all

He shared his gift
The gift of navigating a canoe following stars

Chorus:

Now, he has taught and inspired Nainoa
Nainoa continues the navigational legacy

Chorus:

Sailed the new canoe Maisu to Mau
Chad P, Chad B, Shorty & Bruce the new navigators

Chorus:

Thus is the precious story
Of Mau the navigator the greatest of all

Chorus:

Sailing Samurai
by Keliʻi Tauʻā & David Kauahikaua

Takuji and Kana Uchino were among the first sailors from Japan to ride on the Hōkūleʻa on its trip from Hawaiʻi to Micronesia and back to their homeland of Japan. Takuji expressed his deep personal feelings of his experience upon the canoe in the lines, "On the canoe I feel the Samurai in me but I change my weapon from sword to paddle" As Samurai, the challenge was to conquer the ocean, not another warrior.

I ka holo ana, he piha ke aloha
Me ka mea hoe waʻa mai Nipoa
Hoʻokahi hoe waʻa he kanaka samurai
O Takuji, ka mea waʻa he inoa la

Hui:
Samurai sailing e komo mai iluna
Pane mai ka samurai "Yosh"
E holo i Nipoa

ʻAʻole hele me kona pahi kaua
Mea hana ka hoe kona, ka moana ka ʻaʻa
Boku no kimochi wa samurai no yo da
Katana no kawari ni, hoe o motta

Hui:

Hāʻina mai kapuana, ka mele o ka samurai
Hulo ka mele inoa o Takuji, ka samurai i holo i Nipoa

Hui:

On the voyage there is much aloha
Among the sailors from Japan
One sailor is an honored Samurai
O Takuji is his sailing name

Chorus:
Samurai aboard, come come aboard
The Samurai responds, "Yosh"
Sail on to Japan

Sailor Takuji does not go with his sword
His tool is the paddle the ocean his challenge
On the canoe I feel the samurai in me
However I change my weapon from sword to paddle

Chorus:

Thus ends my story of the Sailing Samurai
Hurray in the name of Takuji, the Sailing Samurai

Chorus:

Aloha Manu O Ku
by Keliʻi Tauʻā & David Kauahikaua

Manu o Ku (White Tern) is another navigational blessing that Pacific Island sailors looked for when traveling on the high seas. The birds were helpful in the recent trip of Hōkūleʻa and Maisu finding Johnston Atoll while sailing to the island of Palau, home of Master Navigator Mau Pialug.

Aloha Manu o Ku
Lele i kai hohonu e
Aloha Manu o Ku
Lele i kai hohonu e, e la ea

Hele kiakahi ka Manu
Hele i kai i ka iʻa kū e
Aia ʻoukou ka Manu
Hōʻailona no ka waʻa Hōkūleʻa,e la ea

Lawe mai ka manu
Lawe mai ka mea ʻai e
Hoʻi mai ka manu
Hoʻi i ka pūnana e, e la ea

E–o e ka Manu o Ku
Lele kiakahi a hoʻi i ka ʻāina e
E–o e ka Manu o Ku
Lele kiakahi a hoʻi i ka ʻāina e, e la ea

I love the litle White Tern.
That flies to the deep sea
I love the litle White Tern.
That flies to the deep sea

Go outward (away) with a purpose.
Go to the school of fish.
There you all are White Tern.
The signs for the double-hull canoe

Return to land White Tern.
Return to your nest with delicious food.
Return to land White Tern.
Return to your nest

Hail to the bird, the Manu o Ku
Off to sea today & back to land tonight.
Hail to the bird, the Manu o Ku
Off to sea today & back to land tonight.

Wahi Kaulana
by Keliʻi Tauʻā & David Kauahikaua

In the spirit of writing songs for place names like Nā Wai Eha, Hilo Hanakahi and the like, Wahi Kaulana of Japan popped up where the canoe or its crew members had time to visit, see the sites, and eat some onolicious food. Thus comes this mele.

Holo o Hōkūleʻa i Nipoa
Pae mua i Okinawa e
Nā wahi, ke kahi
He wahi kaulana e

Hoʻomau ka holo i ʻakau
ʻike ia ka luku hoʻopau i Hiroshima
Nā wahi, ke kahi
He wahi kaulana e

Hui:
Holo ka waʻa i Nipoa
Holo i kekahi wahi kaulana e

Kaulana ka hale ʻaina o Kobe
Ke lohe ʻia mai ʻo a ʻo ke ao nei
Nā wahi, ke kahi
He wahi kaulana e

Ka wahi o ke konomiyaki he Osaka
Ka mea ʻai ono o ka Hikina e
Nā wahi, ke kahi
He wahi kaulana e

Hui:

Kipa hele ka waʻa kaulua
Hele i Kamakura, ka wahi o Kika
Nā wahi, ke kahi
He wahi kaulana e

Hele hope i ke kūʻono o Yokohama
Ka wahi i pae o ka moʻi Kalākaua
Nā wahi, ke kahi
He wahi kaulana e

Hui:

Haʻina ia mai ana kapuana
O na wahi kaulana o Nipoa
Nā wahi, ke kahi
He wahi kaulana e

Hui:

Hōkūleʻa sailed to Japan
Landing first in Okinawa
The places, the sites
A famous site

The sail continued North
Seen the complete destruction of Hiroshima
The places, the sites
A famous site

Chorus:
Sail the canoe to Japan
Sail to several famous places

Kobe, famous name for restaurants
Heard all over the world
He places, the sites
A famous site

Osaka, the place with the Konomiyaki
The delicious specialty of the East
The places, the sites
A famous site

Chorus:

Visited from district to district
Went to Kamakura, the hānai home of the late Tiger
The places, the sites
A famous site

Traveled lastly to Yokohama
The landing place of King Kalākaua
The places, the sites
A famous site

Chorus:

Thus ends my story
Of the famous places of Japan
The places, the sites
A famous site

Chorus:

Inu I Ka Awa
by Keliʻi Tauʻā & David Kauahikaua

Almost 40 years ago, one of the few awa ceremonies was facilitated at Kualoa Park as part of the launching ceremonies for Hōkūleʻa and the family of nā waʻa kaulua (double-hull canoe). On June 10, 2007, the sacred ceremony was again presented to the sailors and the supporting ʻohana at Yokohama who have continued to be an integral part of the voyaging that supported the theme "One Ocean, One People."

Hele mai na mea waʻa ʻelua
Hoʻokahi mea waʻa holo i ka waʻa
ʻē aʻe mea waʻa hele i ka ʻāina

Hui:
E ʻai mai ka inu
E inu i ka wai awa
E ʻai mai ka inu
Aia ka hana hoʻohanohano

Pono ʻī ka pae mea waʻa
Holo kekahi me ka hoe
Holo kekahi me nā peʻa

Hui:

Holo like lākou ia Hōkūleʻa
Nā mea waʻa holo, holo ka waʻa
Kekahi mea waʻa kōkua, hele ka ʻāina

Hui:

Haʻina ia mai ana kapuana
Nā meʻe o ka waʻa inu i ka awa
Nā ʻohana o ka waʻa inu i ka awa

Hui:

There were two groups of sailors
One who sailed on the canoe
The other who traveled on land

Chorus:
Eat and drink
The food of the gods
Eat and drink
Thus the celebration of the voyagers

Great to have a group of sailors
Some with their paddles
Others with the sails

Chorus:

Both sailed together on Hōkūleʻa
Some sailed, sailed the canoe
Other sailor helpers sailed on land

Chorus:

Thus ends the story
Of the canoe heroes drinking their awa
With their land support drinking together

Chorus:

Christmas on Hōkūleʻa
by Keliʻi Tauʻā & David Kauahikaua

Hōkūleʻa is a symbol of aloha. Christmas and Kanakaloka (Santa Claus) brings those elements with paddling reindeer sharing gifts of joy and hope to everyone. Letʻs hoe (paddle) with our friendly Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Dixon, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Dixon, & Rudolph to deliver those presents of aloha from Hawai’i to the world.

ʻIkea i ka hōkū Hōkūleʻa
Kōheoheo ma kela ʻaoʻao ka lani
ʻO Kanakaloka, lele i ka lani
Hoe i ka waʻa me kona mau hoe waʻa

Hui:
Hoe Dasher Dancer
Hoe Prancer Vixen
Hoe Comet Cupid
Hoe Donner Blitzen
Hoe ʻo Rudolph waʻa hoʻokele
Me ka ihu hulali ʻulaʻula

ʻIkea i ka hōkū Hōkūleʻa
Kōheoheo ma kela ʻaoʻao ka lani
ʻO Kananikola, hele i ka honua
Hele ʻoia me kona poʻe ʻeʻepa

Hui:

Mai, mai nā poʻe ʻeʻepa
Hoʻomoʻo a haʻawi nā makana
Mai, mai nā keiki o ke ao nei
E kiʻi mai nā makana o ka lani

Hui:

I have seen the star, ‘Star of Gladness’
Falling across the heavens
Itʻs Santa flying through the heavens
Paddling with his many paddlers

Chorus:
Giddy up Dasher, Dancer
Giddy up Prancer, Vixen
Giddy up Comet, Cupid
Giddy up Donner, Blitzen
Giddy up Rudolph canoe steersman
With the red shiny nose

I have seen the star, ‘Star of Gladness’
Falling across the heavens
ʻO Saint Nicholas traveling all over the earth
Going with his special helping elves

Chorus:

Come, come my helping elves
Letʻs go to give the great gifts
Come, come the children of the world
Come and fetch your heavenly gifts

Chorus:

Pa Mai Ka Makani

I had the honor of doing some research with the late Kapena Kapahulehua on Hawaiian terminology concerning all that had to do on canoes. I have a wind chant 200 years old from Bishop Museum documented by Henry Enriques. When the inaugural voyage took place, they were caught up at the doldrums for several days. They had me wire the chant to the escort boat who gave it to the kahu Billy Richards. So when I met the canoe with my performance group in Tahiti upon arrival, I was excited for their success but more excited to find out if the chant worked. Billy was excited to see me too to validate that it worked but he didnt have control on it so he asked the only native speaker Kapahulehua what he could do and it was simply injecting the directional word hema-left or akau-north. Brilliance in simplicity.

Haʻahaʻa kau keiki e,
Ke ʻeka i ka nuku o ka waʻa,
A kela a lilo kau keiki e,
I ka nuku o ka waʻa.

The chant was done morning and evening and ocean water was poured on the bow and stern.

ʻElua Māua
by Keliʻi Tauʻā & David Kauahikaua

Two Islands miles apart have been used for bombing practice in the past by their respective countries. Today, it is a representation of spiritual peace and harmony. Makanani Atwood, an avid member of Hawaiʻiʻs Protect Kahoʻolawe group, shared his feelings when they sailed in the neighborhood of Miejima on the canoe Hōkūleʻa likening the experience to his work on his favorite spiritual island called "Kohe Malamalama o Kanaloa, ancient name for Kahoʻolawe
HULO (hurray) to the theme One ocean, One people and the accomplishments of Hawaiʻis first double-hull sailing canoe Hōkūleʻa.

E lawe mai he lōkahi i ke ao nei
Kahoʻolawe, he moku, he kanaka o Hawaiʻi
Miejima, he moku, he kanaka o Iapana

Hui:
ʻElua māua, nā mokupuni ʻeha i ka wa hope
ʻElua māua, ka hōʻailona no ka maluhia
ʻElua māua, he puʻuhonua o ka wa mua

E lawe mai he lōkahi i ke ao nei
Nolaila kani nā pu kākou me ke aloha
E hui maikaʻi ʻana o nā leo mele e

Hui:

E lawe mai he lōkahi i ke ao nei
He moʻolelo kuikawa kēia no nā moku ʻelua
Nā moku e lawe mai he lōkahi i ke ao nei

Hui:

Haʻina ia mai ana kapuana la (ea)
ʻElua māua ka hōʻāilona no ka maluhia
ʻElua māua he puʻuhonua o ka wa mua

Hui:

Bring world peace and harmony
Kahoʻolawe, an island, a man of Hawaiʻi
Miejima, an island, a man of Japan

Chorus:
We two, (islands) suffered pain in the past
We two, (islands) are now symbols of peace
We two, (islands) are the futureʻs peaceful heaven

Bringing world peace and harmony
Therefore sound the conches of love
And we all sing together in harmony

Chorus:

Bringing world peace and harmony
This is a special story of two islands
The islands that bring world peace & harmony

Chorus:

Thus is the story of two spiritual islands
We two (islands) the symbol of peace
We two (islands) are the futureʻs Puʻuhonua

Chorus:

Tiki Records Hawaii

Using technology with a respect for the past