Nani Wenusi - Words by Mary Pukui, music by Maddy K. Lam
He nani kou e Venuse E kau haʻaheo nei ʻOlinolino mai i luna I ka maka o ka ʻōpua He manaʻo hoʻohaliʻa Hoʻonape ana i ka poli I kau haʻi ana mai Eia aʻe kuʻu huapala Kuʻu hoa kuikui lima O ka pō mahina laʻi kōnane I ka nehe mai a ke kai Hāwanawana i ke one Pili ʻia me ke aloha I ka ua nui me ka makani Kamaʻia a paʻa pono Ua kumu i ka puʻuwai Haʻina mai ka puana No ka nani O Venuse ʻOlinolino mai i luna I ka maka o ka ʻōpua	Beauty is yours, O Venus Appearing proudly on high Gleaming from on high In the face of the cloudbank A reminiscent thought Makes my breath come faster When you tell me Here comes my sweetheart My hand holding companion Of the quiet moonlit night When the sea rustles Whispering on the sand Together with love In the great rain and the wind Bound securely forever Rooted in the heart The story is told Of the beauty of Venus Gleaming from on high In the face of the cloudbank
Source: - Written between 1955-56, Kahauanu Lake and his group were the first to record it on Maddy Lam's recording label (Island Recording Studio). The Polynesian navigator (hoʻokele) had no instruments and used the prevailing winds, the moods of the sea, and the sky, with the sun as the most important guide, to sail the vast ocean. They steered by the stars, the easiest form of navigation at night, and were very knowledgable about astronomy, memorizing at least 220 star patterns and their paths in the heavens (where they rise, and where they set). They were able to distinguish planets from stars by their movements and also used planets for guides once their positions were determined. Planets appear to move among the fixed stars and were called hoku hele (traveling stars), or hoku ʻae`a (wandering stars). The Hawaiians knew 5 planets: Mars - Hoku ʻula (red star); Venus - Hoku loa (great star); Jupiter - Kaʻawela - brilliant one; Mercury - Ukali, (Sun follower); Saturn - Makulu (dripping mist). Translated by Mary Pukui © 1981 Criterion Music Corp