Leo `Ôiwi
Native Language

na Puakea Nogelmeier
by Puakea Nogelmeier
No Ka Makahiki O Ka `Ôlelo Hawai`i, 13 Jan 96
For the Year of the Hawaiian Language, 1-13-96

 Kani mai ka leo
The sound of a voice can be heard

Leo le`a o ke kama o ke ao nei
The happy chatter of the children of today

Lana ka mana`o
The heart wells up with hopeful thoughts

I ke kani pâ `olu`olu i ka pepeiao
With this sound so pleasing to the ear

He kai hoehoene
The language has been like a softly singing sea

I nehenehe mau i ka `ili`ili o nei pae `âina
Always rustling amid the pebbles of these island shores

A pi`i mai ka nalu
And now that the waves have risen again

E kûpinapina`i ana a i loko lilo
Its echo builds and resounds to the very heart of the land

E ô e ko Keawe
Let the people of Hawai`i of chief Keawe respond

Ko Pi`ilani, mamo a Hina me Kâkuhihewa
Those of Maui, people of Moloka`i and of O`ahu

E hui me ko Mano
Join with those of Kaua`i

I ka leo hea pualu o Kahelelani
In the call that unites with the people of Ni`ihau

Ha`ina ke aloha
Tell this story of aloha

Mai ka pûnua kani kapalili a ke kani ko`o
From the youngest who trill in delight,
to the oldest who hobble on a cane

Ola ka `ôiwi
The Hawaiian people thrive

Ola ka `âina o nâ kûpuna i ke ao nei
And the land of the kûpuna lives on into this modern age

 `O ka leo `ôiwi ke ola mau nei
The native language lives ever on and on

 
Moloka`i, 1996
Mahalo e kumu aloha!

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