Lei Poni Mōʻī (Wreath of Carnation) - Words & music by William Joseph Coelho

Mahalo au o ka nani
O kuʻu lei poni mōʻī
Aʻu i honi hoʻomau
I ke ʻala o ia pua
Pau ʻole koʻu hoʻohihi
Ka puaʻi ʻala o ka hanu
Ua noho wale i ka laʻi
A nohea ke ʻike aku

Hui:
Ke ʻala ka i hiki mai
O kuʻu lei poni mōʻī
Noho ʻoe a manaʻo mai
Hoʻi mai kāua e pili

Eia i ane'i ko aloha
Ka liko pua o ka ʻāhihi
Aʻu i kui a lawa i aneʻi
I hoapili no ke aloha
E ake ana au e ʻike
I ke kumu o ke ʻala
A he ʻala kūpaoa
Hanu ʻala i ka poli


 I admire the beauty
Of my carnation lei
I smell continuously
The fragrance of that flower
Endless is my interest
In its delighful breath
It has dwelt in peace
Till it is lovely to behold

Chorus:
A fragrance comes forth
From my lei of carnations
When you think of me
Come and let us be together

Love for you is here
Like the buds of ʻāhihi
Which I strung into a lei
A tribute to love
|I am eager to discover
The source of the sweetness
An overpowering fragrance
That breathes forth in my bosom
Source: King's Hawaiian Melodies Copyright 1923, 43 Charles E. King Translation by Mary Pukui