Down on Maunakea Street, Peke Nui - Words & Music by Irmgard ʻAluli

Down on Maunakea Street
Where lei ladies sit
Stringing all their lovely leis
You can't help but see

Peke Nui wahine ē
Calling, "Leis for sale!"
Malihinis, kānes, and wāhines
Stop there for a lei

Oh, oh, Peke rolls her great big eyes
Oh, oh, Peke never sighs
She whistles like a traffic cop
And brings that traffic to a stop
Then says, "Leis for sale", ("Hūi, buy my leis!")

Peke Nui wahine ē
Calling, "Leis for sale!"
Malihinis, kānes, and wāhines
Cheer her on their way
Source: Hailama Farden from "Kani ka pila! The musical legacy of Irmgard Keali`iwahinealohanohokahao Puamana Farden ʻAluli - This mele was written in 1935, when the composer was teaching on Molokaʻi. She recalled the old boat days when she would go to Maunakea Street and hear the lei sellers calling out, "Hūi, come buy my leis!" The leis were 10 cents a piece or 3 for a quarter.