Aia lā ‘o Pele i Hawai’i

Jace Kaholokulu Saplan
Walton Music WW1961
Elizabeth Johnson and Scarlett Stone, descant

In Hawai’i, school children learn about the Hawaiian culture, the vocabulary, and history of the islands. Hawaiian women are considered equal partners in terms of disciplines and even fighting in battle. Pele, the goddess of fire, lava, and creation, is revered above all deities and it is she whom the Hawaiians celebrate in hula and song.

Aia lā ‘o Pele i Hawai‘i ‘eā
Ke ha‘a mai lā i Maukele ‘eā
‘Ūhī‘ūhā mai ana ‘eā
Ke nome a‘e lā iā Puna, ‘eā
‘Owaka i ka lani,
Ē Pele ē Pele ē.

I hea kāua e la‘i ai ‘eā?
I ka ‘ale nui a‘e li‘a nei ‘eā
'Ā i luna , 'ā i lalo, ne'ene'e ‘eā
‘O Pele ka wahine mai Kahiki ‘eā
‘Owaka i ka lani,
Ē Pele ē Pele ē.

Translation

Pele is in Hawai‘i
She is dancing at Maukele
She rumbles and mutters
As she consumes Puna.
Flashing in the heavens,
O Pele, Pele.

Where will we find peace?
On the great billows we love
Blazing above, blazing below, hitching along
Pele is the woman from Kahiki
Flashing in the heavens,
O Pele, Pele.