As a follow-up to the last Just Asking, if you’re truly kamaaina, what two isle songs should you know by heart?
Meaning lyrics, even in Hawaiian?
Two tunes come to mind:
- “Hawai ‘i Pono’i,” the state anthem. No excuses — you need to know the lyrics, from top to bottom. (Lyrics are here: https://www.mamalahoa.org/wp-content/uploads/Hawaii-Ponoi.pdf )
- “Hawai’i Aloha,” the soul-stirring tune that bonds like glue, commonly sung en masse with hands entwined, at the end of a Hawaiian event; almost always rendered in the Hawaiian language. (Lyrics are here: https://www.huapala.org/Hawaii/Hawaii_Aloha.html ); also, a stunning video is performed by isle youths and professional entertainers; a definitive new -generation favorite: https://www.manamele.org/hawai-i-aloha
Among other songs you should know to be a kamaaina: “E Kuu Morning Dew” and “Hawaiian Lullaby,” the latter commonly referred to as “Where I Live, There Are Rainbows. No-no-no, those are the opening lyrics.
Now get going on your song contribution(s)…