Aloha ‘Oe

COUNTRY: Hawaii
LANGUAGE: Hawaiian

The most beloved Hawaiian song of all time is Queen Lili’uokalani’s “Aloha ‘Oe,” which means “farewell to you.” The Queen wrote the lyrics, in part to a melody borrowed from a popular song of the day, when she witnessed the parting of two people in love. As we sing “Aloha ‘Oe” we will appreciate the fact that Lili’uokalani told this bittersweet tale of love in the context of Hawaii’s glorious nature. Here is Huapala.org’s translation: “Proudly swept the rain by the cliffs/As it glided through the trees/Still following ever the bud/The ‘ahihi lehua of the vale, Farewell to you, farewell to you, The charming one who dwells in the shaded bowers, One fond embrace, ‘Ere I depart, Until we meet again.”