Hawaii Official State Song

Hawai`i Pono`i


Written by King David Kalakaua
Music by Prof. Henry Berger, the Royal Bandmaster

Hawaii ponoi Nana i kou, moi
Kalani Alii, ke Alii.
Makua lani e Kamehameha e
Na kaua e pale Me ka i he.

(translation)

Hawaii’s own true sons, be loyal to your chief
Your country’s liege and lord, the Alii.1
Father above us all, Kamehameha,2
Who guarded in the war with his ihe,3

1. Alii (ah-lee-ee) sovereign
2. Kamehameha (Kah-may’-ha-may’-ha) king who first unified the islands.
3. Ihe (ee-hay) spear
Submitted by: Michelle Quigley, The Palm Beach Post
Source: Hawaii Visitor’s Bureau