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Hanohano Hawaiʻi moku o Keawe
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Majestic Hawaiʻi, home of
Keawe Regal Haleakalā of Maui |
Source: Folk Songs Hawaii Sings by John M. Kelly, Jr. Library of Congress Catalog Card #62-14118 - Composed in the 1890's, this is the earliest of several songs with the same title that celebrate the uniting of the islands into the kingdom of Hawaiʻi. Red (ʻulaʻula) is the color of the big island of Hawaiʻi and lehua (metrosideros macropus) is their flower. Keawe was a distinguished chief of this island. Pink (ʻakala) represents Maui and the small pink rose or lokelani is their flower. Haleakala (House of the sun) is an extinct volcano on this island. The delicate ʻilima is the flower of Oʻahu and yellow (melemele) is its color. Purple (poni) represents Kauaʻi and the green mokihana berry (pelea anisata) found only on this island is their symbol. Lauaʻe o Makana is a sweet fern from Makana, Kauaʻi. Green (ʻomaoʻmao) is the color of Molokaʻi and the kukui or candlenut tree (aleurite moluccana) is their symbol. Hina was the goddess-mother of Molokaʻi and Lanikaula was perhaps the greatest prophet of ancient Hawaiʻi. Orange (ʻalani) is for Lanaʻi and the kaunaʻoa (cuscuta sandwichiana) is their symbol. Pupu shells and white (keʻokeʻo) honor the island of Niʻihau. Gray (ahina) is the color of Kahoʻolawe and their symbol is hinahina (heliotropium anomalum) a low spreading beach plant with narrow, clustered silvery leaves and small white flowers. It is sometimes replaced with Spanish moss. Molokini, a small, uninhabited island, has no symbolic color or flower. Hiʻiaka, the youngest and favorite sister of Pele traveled extensively in the seas between the islands. |