Aloha ʻOe

Aloha ʻOe (Farewell to Thee) is Liliʻuokalani's most famous song and a common cultural Leitmotif for Hawaii. The song was inspired by a horseback trip she took in 1877 to the windward side of Oʻahu. After visiting the Boyd ranch in Maunawili, Liliʻuokalani witnessed a farewell embrace between Colonel James Boyd and one of the young ranch ladies. A tune came to her on the ride home and she composed the words once she returned to Washington Place. The melody of the chorus is similar to the chorus of George Frederick Root's 1854 song "There's Music In The Air".

File:Liliuokalani at Capitol.jpg

The statue of Queen Liliʻuokalani, holding a copy of Aloha ʻOe

Haʻaheo ka ua i nā pali	Proudly swept the rain by the cliffs
Ke nihi aʻela i ka nahele	As it glided through the trees
E hahai (uhai) ana paha i ka liko	Still following ever the bud
Pua ʻāhihi lehua o uka	The ʻāhihi lehua of the vale
Hui:	Chorus:
Aloha ʻoe, aloha ʻoe	Farewell to thee, farewell to thee
E ke onaona noho i ka lipo	The charming one who dwells in the shaded bowers
One fond embrace,	One fond embrace,
A hoʻi aʻe au	'Ere I depart
Until we meet again	Until we meet again
ʻO ka haliʻa aloha i hiki mai	Sweet memories come back to me
Ke hone aʻe nei i	Bringing fresh remembrances
Kuʻu manawa	Of the past
ʻO ʻoe nō kaʻu ipo aloha	Dearest one, yes, you are mine own
A loko e hana nei	From you, true love shall never depart
Maopopo kuʻu ʻike i ka nani	I have seen and watched your loveliness
Nā pua rose o Maunawili	The sweet rose of Maunawili
I laila hiaʻia nā manu	And 'tis there the birds of love dwell
Mikiʻala i ka nani o ka lipo	And sip the honey from your lips

References

Queen Liliuokalani's "ALOHA 'OE" music console was discovered at a Honolulu thrift store in 2006. It was crafted by Queen Victoria's cabinetmaker and it's detailed history can best be viewed on Ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360202758398&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT