Aloha O`e     Farewell to Thee

Melody - Melody - by Hawai`i's last queen, Lili`uokalani in 1877

Queen Lili`uokalani

Ha`aheo `e ka ua I n? p?li
Ke nihi a`ele i ka nahele
E uhai ana paha i ka liko
Pua `?hihi lehua o uka.

hui:
Aloha `oe, aloha `oe
E ke onaona noho i ka lipo.
"One fond embrace," a ho`i a`e au
A hui hou aku.

`O ka hali`a aloha ka i hiki mai
Ke hone a`e nei i ku`u manawa.
`O `oe n? ka`u ipo aloha
A loko e hana nei.

Maopopo ku`u `ike i ka nani
N? pua rose o Mauna-wili.
I laila ho`ohie n? manu,
Miki`ala i ka nani o ia pua.
  Proudly the rain on the cliffs
Creeps into the forest
Seeking the buds
And miniature lehua flowers of the uplands.

Chorus:
Farewell to thee, farewell to thee
O fragrance in the blue depths.
One fond embrace and I leave
To meet again.

Sweet memories come
Sound softly in my heart.
You are my beloved sweetheart
Felt within.

I understand the beauty
Of rose blossoms at Mauna-wili.
There the birds delight
To the beauty of this flower.


It is said that Queen Lili`uokalani composed "Aloha O`e" in Maunawili in 1877 after witnessing the fond parting embrace of two lovers, one of whom was probably her sister, Likelike, who later married A. S. Cleghorn. The final verse mentions the rose blossoms (n? pua rose) at Maunawili. Liliu`okalani intended "Aloha O`e" as a love song; but it became a song of farewell.

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