Maiʻa Lau Pala (Yellowing Banana Leaf) - Traditional
Click Title to Access Melody ʻAuhea wale ʻoe e ka maoli Ka maiʻa lau pala o ke kuahiwi Kaena ana ʻoe i kou kanaka uʻi I na hua ohiʻa pala haʻama E kiʻi a loaʻa i ka wēkiu Ka liko ka lehua ke ʻako mai ʻAʻole ʻoe aʻo pua ka ʻilima E memele kohu ai nei poʻohiwi Eia au nei pua ka lehua Kohu ai ke kaunu ana i laila Heaha no la kaʻu hala nui Au aʻe paweo ʻike ʻole mai Kohu ʻoli kahi mea o ka liʻa ʻana Hoʻokahi kawele pulu i ka hou Haʻina ʻia mai ana ka puana Ka maiʻa lau pala o ke kuahiwi	Pay attention, you banana The yellowing banana leaf of the mountains You brag about your youthful physique About the mountain apples half ripe Go after and get to the top To cut the leaf bud of the lehua You are not the ʻilima flower So becoming, the yellow on my shoulders Here I am, the lehua flower Suitable for loving What is my great fault You turn away, without looking at me| That person is unsuitable and not desirable A towel damp with sweat The story is told The yellowing-leafed banana of the mountain
Source: There are other versions and verses of this mele. Maiʻa is the general term for banana and maoli is a variety. Maiʻa lau pala is the Hawaiian expression for bad or failing health. Music clip by Gippy Cooke