Ka Ipo Lei Manu
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Ka Ipo Lei Manu (also entitled He Mana'o He Aloha) is a Hawaiian love song written by Queen Kapi'olani (1834-1899) for her husband, Hawai'i's King David Kalākaua (1836-1891) He has traveled toi San Fransisco for medical treatments, and she writes him this song while he is away. He dies before he can return, and the song becomes a lament for him. Here are the lyrics: [Translation by Lehua Kalima]
He mana`o healoha ( I have a feeling of love
No ka ipo lei manu ( for my cherished sweetheart
He manu ku`u hoa ( My companion is a bird
Noho mai i ka nahele ( who dwells in the forest
`I`iwi o uka (The `i`iwi bird of the uplands
Polena i ka ua (appears yellow in the rain
Elua maua (The two of us
I ka po ua nui (in the night of great rain
Ua o Hanalei (The rain of Hanalei
Anu au ma`e`ele (I'm numb with the cold
Ua anu ho`i au (I'm also cooled
I ka ua noe anu (in the cold misty rain
Na hau o Ma`ihi (The hau of Ma'ihi
`Au ana i ke kai (swimming in the sea
Na ulu o wehi (The vegetation
Punohu mai ana (spreading out
Ke `ala o ka hala (The fragrance of the hala
Hala o mapuana (is borne on the wind
Onaona i ka ihu (Sweely scented
Ke `ala pua loke (is the fragrance of the rose
Hone `ana i ka mana`o (A sweetly recurring thought
E naue ku`u kino (urges my body to travel
Ko hiki `ana mai (I am made happy
Hau`oli ku`u mana`o (by thoughts of your arrival
Ha'ina ka puana (Tell the refrain
No kalani heleloa (My chief is gone foreve
He mana`o healoha ( I have a feeling of love
No ka ipo lei manu ( for my cherished sweetheart
He manu ku`u hoa ( My companion is a bird
Noho mai i ka nahele ( who dwells in the forest
`I`iwi o uka (The `i`iwi bird of the uplands
Polena i ka ua (appears yellow in the rain
Elua maua (The two of us
I ka po ua nui (in the night of great rain
Ua o Hanalei (The rain of Hanalei
Anu au ma`e`ele (I'm numb with the cold
Ua anu ho`i au (I'm also cooled
I ka ua noe anu (in the cold misty rain
Na hau o Ma`ihi (The hau of Ma'ihi
`Au ana i ke kai (swimming in the sea
Na ulu o wehi (The vegetation
Punohu mai ana (spreading out
Ke `ala o ka hala (The fragrance of the hala
Hala o mapuana (is borne on the wind
Onaona i ka ihu (Sweely scented
Ke `ala pua loke (is the fragrance of the rose
Hone `ana i ka mana`o (A sweetly recurring thought
E naue ku`u kino (urges my body to travel
Ko hiki `ana mai (I am made happy
Hau`oli ku`u mana`o (by thoughts of your arrival
Ha'ina ka puana (Tell the refrain
No kalani heleloa (My chief is gone foreve