Manu ʻIʻiwi - Traditional
Nani wale ka hiʻona ia manu
Hiehie i ponia e ke aloha
I laiae lawa kuʻu makemake
Honi au a hoʻomaumau

Hui:
Ua pili kahi manu
Hulu nani i ka ua
Ia manu ʻiʻiwi polena i ka ua
Ua pili i kaʻu kepau a hemoʻole
I kaʻu kawili ana iho a paʻa pono

 Beautiful is the appearance of that bird
Attractive and anointed with love
There I was satisfied
To kiss it and continue kissing it

Chorus:
I have caught my bird
Its feathers are beauiful in the rain
A yellowish ʻIʻiwi bird in the rain
It was caught on my gum and can't get away
I gummed the branch and there it was caught fast
Source: "Na Mele O Hawaiʻi" by West Maui Hawaiian Civic Club.ʻIʻiwi is the scarlet honeycreeper also called ʻakialoa on Oʻahu. The feathers are used in Hawaiian featherwork. This love song uses the methaphor of bird-catching with gum. Translated by Mary Pukui
ʻIʻiwi Bird