SPECIAL REPORT
Mele 'Ai Pohaku

An 1895 poem by Ellen Wright Prendergast, read at the investiture of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustees, Dec. 20

Famous are the children of Hawai
'i
Who stood loyal to their land
When the greedy messenger came
Bringing documents of extortion.

Kaulana na pua a'o Hawai'i
Kupa
'a ma hope o ka 'aina
Hiki mai ka
'elele o ka loko 'ino
Palapala
'anunu me ka pakaha

Hawai'i of Keawe answered
The bays of Pi
'ilani sent help
Kaua
'i of Mano lent support
Together with sands of Kakuhihewa

Pane mai Hawai'i moku o Keawe
Kokua na hono a
'o Pi'ilani
Kako
'o mai Kaua'i o Mano
Pau pu me ke one o Kakuhihewa

A signature will not be affixed
On the paper of the enemy
Who have illegally acquired lands
Taking with it the civil rights of the people

A'ole a'e kau i ka pulima
Ma luna o ka pepa o ka
'enemi
Ho
'ohui 'aina ku'ai hewa
I ka pono siwila a
'o ke kanaka

We will not be swayed
By the government’s sums of money
We would rather eat stones
Wondrous food of the land

'A'ole makou a e minamina
I ka pu
'u kala a ke aupuni
Ua lawa makou i ka pohaku
Ka
'ai kamaha'o o ka 'aina

We will stand behind Lili'uokalani
Until justice for our land is restored
The refrain is told for
The people who love their land

Ma hope makou o Lili'ulani
A loa
'a e ka pono o ka 'aina
Ha
'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana
'
O ka po'e i aloha i ka 'aina

[ top ]

© COPYRIGHT 2001 The Honolulu Advertiser, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.