Hawaiian Chant

Hawaiians Lost In Korea | Hawaiians Lost In Vietnam
Hawaiian Korean and Vietnam War Memorial

HE UE NO KA 'AINA HANAU

 HAKU'I E HO'OPAU

A Cry for the Homeland, Echoes now Complete

In memory of the Slain in the Korean and Vietnam Conflicts

by

John Keolamaka'ainanakalahuiokalaninoKamehameha'ekolu Lake

Aloha wale o'u hoa, e o'u mamakaua

Affections for my companions

I ha'ulehia

for my fallen comrades,

Mal Hawai'i nui, Hawai'i iki

From great Hawai'i, small Hawai'i,

Aia ia 'oukou e haku'i i mau 'aina 'elua e

There you are, echoing from two distant lands,

He wahi e, po'ipu i ke kapa o Poli'ahu,

A distant place, blanketed by Poli'ahu's mantle, (Korea)

I ka 'aina e ho'a'a i ke ahi i ka nahele

A distant land, fire is kindled in the forest,

A 'e 'ena'ena ai.

Scorched. (Vietnam)

He ue,'O kua'ana! He ue, 'o Kuahine!

Cry! Oh Brothers, Cry! Oh Sisters!

He ua I pono, e pono ia ua

Let rain fall, for rain is good,

Makai mai ho'i kekahi ua

Rains from the lowlands,

Ma na 'e mai ho'i kekahi ua

Rains from the East

Malalo mai ho'i kekahi ua,

Rains from the South,

Maluna mai ho'I kekahi ua,

Rains from above,

Malalo mal ho'i kekahi ua,

Rains from below,

A he ua i halaka, he mahala,

It patters down, it pelts down,

Pehi hewa i ka nahele,

It crushes the forest,

Kua'oa kanikani i ka pua lehua

It plays musically through the lehua.

Ka lehua hala,

The yellow lehua (Eastern lands)

Ho'opuehu ka ua I ke kai 'ewalu

Rains scattered across the eight seas

Ua ka ua, kahe ka wai,

Let the rain fall, let the waters flow,

Ho ola hou ke kanaka.

Man will live again.

Kuili ia i pa'a!

Lift up your prayers!

Ua ho'oko 'ia ka haku'i a'e nei!

That they may be approved!

E pa'a i ka lani!

Approved in the heavens!

A Mana i ka lani!

Have power in the heavens!

A ulu i ka lani!

Flourish in the heavens!

A lu i ka lani, lani ku!

Scatter blessings from the heavens, the highest heavens!

Oilika pule! Kuili!

The prayer unrolls itself! Uttered!

Hano ke Akua!

God reigns over all!

He mea wahi ho'omana'o,

A memorial,

He mea wahi ho'ano

A hallowed place,

I ka 'ihi lani!

With heaven's splendor!

He lani pakaua kukahai,

A heaven is a walled stronghold,

Ua noa! E hui ka pule!

It is free! The prayer is finished!

Ho'opau ka haku'i!

The Echo is answered!

 

From the Dedication of the Hawaiian Korean War and Vietnam War Memorials July 24, 1994.

Note: 1. Poli'ahu - is the goddess of snow 2. Rain - Figuratively and poetically in Hawaiian is symbolic for love, compassion, blessings, cleansing, purification, growth, and memories.




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