Auhea ʻO Ka Lani (Where Is The Royal Chief) - Mele Inoa for Lunalilo
ʻAuhea ʻo ka lani lā Aia i ka heʻe nalu   Heʻe ana i ka lala lā Hoʻi ana i ka muku   A ka nalu o hoʻeu lā Eu hoʻi aʻe kāua   A pae aʻe Kaimu lā Hoʻomu nā kanaka   ʻAuʻau i ka wai lā Aʻo Waiʻakolea   Luʻu aku a ea mai lā Kanaenae o ka lani   Haʻina mai ka puana lā No Lunalilo no he inoa He Inoa no Lunalilo	King William Charles Lunalilo   High Chiefess Miriam Auhea Kekauluohi	Where is the royal chief? There surfing   Surfing on the long wave Returning on the short wave   On the hoʻeu wave We both return   And land at the sea of Kaimu Where the natives gather   We bath in the fresh water The pond of Waiʻakolea   We dive and surface A prayerful chant for the chief   Tell the refrain Lunalilo is the name   In the name of Lunalilo
Source: Lunalilo by Peter Galuteria, Na Mele Hula by Nona Beamer - Hoʻeu means a frothy, stirring, whirlpool wave. Kaimu is a famous surfing beach. Waiaʻkolea, water of the akolea fern, is a fresh water pond at Kalapana. Luʻu is a diving style with a leaf held in the mouth and covering the nose. This chant honors William Charles Lunalilo, 6th ruler of Hawaiʻi and his surfing exploits in the Puna district of Hawaiʻi. Born January 31, 1835, in a coral house at Pohukaina, he was a prince of high rank; the son of High Chief Charles Kanaʻina and High Chiefess Miriam Auhea Kekauluohi (the thriving growth), the 3rd highest ranking chiefess at that time. After the death of Kamehameha I, her uncle, she took the name Auhea (where has he gone). Hawaiian tradition traces genealogy thru the mother. When a name for the prince was about to be selected, his mother chanted: "I luna, i luna, i lunalilo, the highest, the highest, the highest of all". Luna (high) lilo (lost) means so high up as to be lost to sight. He was also named for King William IV of Britain, a great friend of Hawaiian royalty. Educated at the Chief's Childrens School, he was a good student, winning many scholastic awards. His keen memory, love of his people and a deep sense of justice were among his best assets. Upon the death of King Kamehameha V, Lunalilo was nominated for king. His birthright was enough to claim the throne, but he wanted the people to choose their ruler. His handsome features, gracious manners and intelligence endeared him to all and he was affectionately called Lokomaika`i, (merciful or gracious). He was elected overwhelmingly by the people, unanimously by the legislature and installed as king at Kawaihao Church, January 9, 1873. Noted for simplicity, he sat on the throne covered with the feather cape, symbol of Hawaiian Royalty. This was the ancient act of coronation. His reign began in the middle of an economic depression, but the greatest problem he inherited was the enforcement of the law to prevent the spread of leprosy. His pain for lepers separated from their families and friends and his commitment to protect the uninfected population weighed deeply upon his conscience. The arrival of Father Damien in 1873, was one answer to his fervent prayer. Unable to cope with the changing times and deeply burdened by the dwindling of his native people, he became addicted to alcohol. Feb. 3, 1874, the King died of tuberculosis at his home in Waikīkī. He was 39 years old. His was the briefest reign of all, 1 year and 25 days, but the most democratic and receptive to American influence. His lasting legacy is Lunalilo Home, a care home for aged and destitute Hawaiians, founded in 1881.