User:Adam Hew Len/Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī

Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī - Hawai'i National Anthem

Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī is the regional Anthem of the state of Hawaiʻi written by King David Kalākaua and composed by Captain Henri Berger. During the late 19th century, it served as the national anthem of the Hawaiian kingdom and has continued to be Hawaii's official anthem since the annexation by the United States in 1898.

History

Hawai’i Pono’i was written by King David Kalākaua in 1874. It was composed by Captain Henri Berger and then the king's royal bandmaster. Hawai'i Pono'i can be translated as “Hawaiʻi’s own true sons.” Hawai’i Pono’i was the adopted song of the Territory of Hawaiʻi, and later became the state anthem by an act of the Hawaiʻi State Legislature in 1967. Hawai'i Ponoi had replaced the previous state anthem composed by queen Lili'uokalani titled He Mele Lahui Hawaii. Hawai'i ponoi is often sung at major events in Hawaii and sporting events.

King David Kalakaua

King David Kalakaua was the last king of Hawaii. He was elected and ruled from 1874-1891. He is sometimes called the Merrie Monarch. He had a convivial personality and enjoyed entertaining guests with his singing and ukulele playing. Kalakaua was born at 2:00 a.m. on November 16, 1863 to Caesar Kaluaiku Kapa'akea and Analea Keohokalole in the grass hut compound in the Punchbowl Crater in Honolulu on the island of O'ahu. The name Kalakaua, translates to "The Day of Battle"

Hawai'i National Anthems

Hawai'i's National Anthems started all the way in 1861. Before 1861, the kingdom of Hawai'i used the British royal anthem, "God Save the King." The Hawaiian name for it is "E Ola ka Mo'i i ke Akua" meaning "God Save the King". In 1861 an anthem writing contest was launched by the Hawaiian language newspaper, Ka Nupepa Kuoko'a. The rules of the contest was that it must be four stanzas in the Hawaiian language, but it has to be set to the tune of the British royal anthem, God Save the King.

Fifteen anonymous entries were submitted and in January of 1862, the entry titled "E Ola ka Moi i ke Akua" was chosen as the winner from the judges, composed by Prince William Lunalilo at age 27. His song was a translation of "God Save The King" into Hawaiian and it also fit the music of the British tune.

King Kamehameha V wanted to replace the translated British anthem into a song entirely Hawaiian. This anthem was titled He Mele Lahui Hawai'i, which is translated to "the song of the Hawaiian Nation" and it was composed by Queen Lili'uokalani. The lyrics of the song praise the Hawaiian Islands.

Lyrics

Hawai'i Pono'ī

Hawai’i ponoʻī	Hawaiʻi's own true sons,

Nānā i kou mōʻī,	Be loyal to your king,

Ka lani aliʻi,	Your only ruling chief,

Ke aliʻi. Your liege and lord.

Hawaiʻi ponoʻī,	Hawaiʻi's own true sons,

Nānā i nā Aliʻi,	Honor give to your chiefs,

Nā pua muli kou,[3]	Of kindred race are we,

Nā pōkiʻi. Younger descent.

Hawaiʻi ponoʻī,	Hawaiʻi's own true sons,

E ka lāhui ē,	People of this our land,

ʻO kāu hana nui	Duty calls fealty,

E ui ē. Guide in the right.

Hui:	Chorus:

Makua lani ē,	Royal father,

Kamehameha ē,	Kamehameha,

Na kāua e pale,	We shall defend,

Me ka ihe. With the spear.