Kame'enui Oli

Written and composed by Gaison Kelii Pio & Kehau Wong

Kai ka nani a ka moana, ʻo Anaʻōʻio
How beautiful is the Anaʻōʻio ocean
Kahi e lana ai ka waʻa, ʻo Kameʻenui
The place where Kameʻenui floats

Kū i ka wela i hopu ʻia, i Nānākuli
It remains in the heat that was captured in Nānākuli
I ka māmalu o ka puʻu, ʻo Heleakalā
In the shade (protection) of Heleakalā

 

Pale ʻia e Palikea, a Mauna Kapu
It is protected by Palikea and Mauna Kapu
I ka makani ʻo Kaiāulu, a pā ikaika
From the strong gust of the Kaiāulu wind

 

Pā ikaika a holo ka waʻa ʻo Kameʻenui.
The wind blows strong and Kameʻenui sails on
(“The paddles are struck with strength” and Kameʻenui sails on)

 

*This mele oli was written with the names of the ocean, mountains, wind and canoe of Nānākuli in mind. It seemed very important to incorporate our geographical surroundings and stories of the Nānākuli ahupuaʻa.

 

**Anaʻōʻio is the name of the ocean from the end of Ulehawa (Depots, beginning of Kalanianaʻole Beach park) to Pākōlea (Black Rocks). Keone Nunes helped to verify this original name of the ocean at Kalaniʻanaʻole Beach Park. This name is not in any books or sources that we could find.

 

****As for the pana (the beat) it will be a more up beat pace having the women/girls starting each line and the men/boys ending each line. The underlined words will be the mens/boys part. The very last line, we will all say it together not in a chant style, but with a strong finish.