Mūkīkī Wai (Sipping Water) - Traditional

Mūkīkī wai lele huna a ka manu
O ka ʻawa ʻili lena i ka uka o Kaliu

Na ka manu ʻahaʻihaiʻi kanu lau ʻawa o ka uka
Aia i ka uka laʻau ka ʻawa o Puna

Mapunapuna mai ana ka aloha iaʻu nei
A e hoʻolaʻau mai ana iaʻu e moe

The birds sip the honey of the flowers
Amid the yellow-skinned ʻawa in the upland of Kaliu

The flitting birds planted the ʻawa in the uplands
In the upland forest grows the ʻawa of Puna

Your love comes like a flowing spring
Lulling me to sleep
Source: Mary Pûkui Collection - Based on an ancient chant from the Pele-Hiʻiaka legends, this was set to music and became a popular childrens' song. ʻAwa or kava (piper methysticum) is a shrub used medicinally by the early Hawaiians. The roots are used to make a relaxing drink that causes drowsiness. ʻAwa is a reference to Hiʻiaka, who healed the land after the wrath of Pele destroyed Puna. Kaliu (the salt, also used medicinally) is a hill in Kalapana on the island of Hawaiʻi. Verse 3 is a tribute from Hiʻiaka to Pele. Translated by Mary Pukui