Keanakolu (The Triple Cave) - Traditional

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Aia i ka laʻi o Keanakolu
Kuʻu lei māmane nuʻa i ke anu

Pōniu ʻailana huʻe ka manaʻo
E ike i ka nani o ia pua

Maoli pua ia no ka uka wao
Noke kuahiwi hoʻi me ke kualono

Aia i a luna o Waikiu
Ka luna o kuʻu pua i kaʻana ai

Kaʻana pū no wau me ke anu
Kuʻu hoa i ke anu ao Hakalau

Lauahi kō ʻlima lā e ka hoa
Ke aka kau o ke ao nāulu

Ulu hua wale au ia Waiau
Ka piko kaula o ka ʻāina

I laila ka wai hū a Kāne
Ia wai kaulana helu minuke

Pupū ike ʻole ia iho ia
He ihona na ka lima hema ʻeha ʻoe

Maka ʻaoao ʻākau mai ʻoe
O loaʻa i ka hema lā palupalu

Haʻina ʻia mai ana ka puana
Aia i ka laʻi o Keanakolu


 

There in the calm of Keanakolu
My māmane blossom thrives in the cold

An overwhelming desire engulfs the mind
To see the beauty of that flower

It is a native flower of the upland forest
Growing in the mountain ridges tall

Up on the heights of Waikiu
It is the upland my blossom is fond of

I enjoy the pleasure of being cold
With my love in the chill of Hakalau

Your hands are ever adept, oh love
As you stand in the shadow of the rain clouds

I am annoyed with Waiau
The famous lake at the summit of the land

There is found the gushing spring of Kāne
The famous water that flows minute by minute

Should you be careless in descending,
Down the left side, you'll be hurt

Take the right hand side in going
Lest you slip to the left and be weakened

Thus ends my song
Of the calm of Keanakolu


Source: Penny Kelii -This mele appeared in the Parker Ranch newspaper of 1967. Keanakolu, beyond Pāhala in the Kaʻū district of Hawaiʻi, is where 3 caves, connected by tunnels, is believed to be located. Māmane, a native tree found at high altitudes, has narrow leaves and usually yellow flowers. The hard wood was used for spades and hōlua sled runners. Translated by Kanani Kamai, Edited by Lalepa Koga, Photo Credit G. Maguire, Music clip by Gippy Cooke

Māmane trees in bloom