Kananaka

Keali'i Reichel
C F C
'O ka pa mai a ka Ma'a'a
G7 C G7 C The Maaa wind blows
Halihali mai ana la i ke 'ala Bringing the scent
C F C The fragrance of lpoa
Ke 'ala onaona o ka lipoa
G7 C (G7)
Pick (lpoa) until we have enough
Hana 'oe a kani pono (2x)
*Chorus:
HUI: Beautiful are the sand dunes
C F C Kananaka surfs inland
*Nani wale ia pu'e one la
G7 C G7 C Where we also surf
I ka nalu he'e mai a'o Kananaka In the spray of the sea
C F C
Kahi a makou a e he'e ai
G7 C (G7)
The moon rises
I ka 'ehu'ehu o ke kai (2x) Poised above the cliffs
Moonbeams so alluring
C F C Overjoying the body
'O ka mahina hiki aloalo
G7 C G7 C
Ho'ola'ila'i ana la i na pali The moon shines brightly
C F C Bringing peace to the darkness
Pohina wehiwehi i ke onaona
G7 C
Thrilling one to the core of one's
Koni ma'e'ele i ke kino being
G7 C Overjoying the body
Koni ma'e'ele i ke kino
Source: Kealii Reichel CD
C F C
*Nani wale ia pu'e one la Kananaka was a mermaid who lived in the sea
G7 C G7 C outside of Lahaina, Maui. This hula noho was
I ka nalu he'e mai a'o Kananaka usually taught to young girls beginning hula
C F C instructions. Iwi hilo is the thigh bone or last rib
Kahi a makou a e he'e ai bone, meaning the very core of one's being in
G7 C (G7) Hawaiian poetry. Maaa is the famous wind at
I ka 'ehu'ehu o ke kai (2x) Lahaina. It is believed that when a lot of foam is
near the shoreline or the mouth of a stream, the
mermaid is present. If the mermaid was in the
C F C
loko (fishpond), fish could not be caught for
*Nani wale ia pu'e one la
food. They would be bitter and not good to eat.
G7 C G7 C He Aloha Mele notes the Maui elders credit this
I ka nalu he'e mai a'o Kananaka mele to Kauhailikua, a court dancer for King
C F C Kalkaua.
Kahi a makou a e he'e ai
G7 C (G7) Translated by Kanani Mana
I ka 'ehu'ehu o ke kai (2x)