Lyrics brought to you by Segnbora-t
A song of
farewell written in
1878 by
Hawaii's last monarch, Queen
Liliuokalani. She is said to have been inspired by watching two lovers in
Oahu, Colonel James Boyd of the queen's entourage and a girl from Maunawili, having to leave one another and saying their goodbyes in the moonlight. (This probably accounts for the
English words in the Hawaiian-language version.)
This was probably the first Hawaiian song to become well-known outside the Hawaiian Islands and has been recorded by many artists.
In Hawaiian:
Ha`aheo ka ua i nā pali
Ke nihi a`e la i ka nahele
E hahai ana paha i ka liko
Pua `āhihi lehua o uka
Chorus:
Aloha `oe, aloha `oe
E ke onaona noho i ka lipo
One fond embrace, a ho`i a`e au
Until we meet again
`O ka hali`a aloha i hiki mai
Ke hone a`e nei i ku`u manawa
`O `oe nō ka`u ipo aloha
A loko e hana nei
Maopopo ku`u `ike i ka nani
Nā pua rose o Maunawili
I laila hia`ia nā manu
Miki`ala i ka nani o ka lipo
In English:
Proudly swept the rain by the cliffs
As it glided through the trees
Still following ever the bud
The `ahihi lehua of the vale
Chorus:
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
Sweet memories come back to me
Bringing fresh remembrances of the past
Dearest one, yes, you are mine own
From you, true love shall never depart
I have seen and watched your loveliness
The sweet rose of Maunawili
And 'tis there the birds of love dwell
And sip the honey from your lips
http://www.huapala.org/Aloha_Oe.html says this is the English translation made by Liliuokalani herself. I've heard others as well.