Lili’u e

$2.25

Lili’u e is written by John Kaulia and arranged by Linda Kachelmeier. It is featured in the Rose Publications Nā Mele Hawai’i: A Rediscovery of Hawaiian Vocal Music series.

From the Series Editor: Akoni Kaoʻo, known as the “race horse of Waialua” for his success as a distance runner, was a renowned kumu hula and had served in the army during the reigns of Kalākaua and Liliʻuokalani. With this name chant, he expressed his loyalty to the Queen. A separate ʻukulele lead sheet is included. The score contains source information, historical context, editorial notes, performance suggestions, and a translation above the staff. A brief Hawaiian diction guide is included.

SKU: RP-01-0023 Category:

You can peruse the score here. 

You can listen to a recording by the Rose Ensemble on Graphite.

Ē Liliʻu e noho nani mai Ko kino e i kiʻi milimili Ko maka e e nōweo nei Ko pāpālina e kukū ana. Ko poʻohiwi ani peʻahi Ko poli e he nahenahe wale Ko kuli e nuku moi hoʻi Ko wāwae he pahuwai ē. Haʻina ʻia mai ana ka puana Ē Liliʻu e noho nani mai Ē ō ē Liliʻu i kou inoa Ka hae kalaunu o Hawaiʻi nei. O Liliʻu, sitting so beautifully, Your person we fondly touch. Your eyes sparkle, Your cheeks stand out. Your shoulders wave like a fan, Your bosom is so soft, Your knees like a moi fish nose, Your feet lifted up. Tell the refrain Of Liliʻu sitting beautifully. Answer, Liliʻu, to your name— The crowning flory of Hawaiʻi. -Antone “Akoni” Kaoʻo (c. 1851–1928), trans. attrib. Thomas T. Shirai, Jr.

Ruling from 1891-1893, Liliʻuokalani was the last sovereign monarch and only queen regnant of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Her full name, Liliʻu Loloku Walania Kamakaʻeha, follows the Hawaiian custom of memorializing current events. At the time, regent Elizabeth Kīnaʻu had developed an eye infection, thus the child’s name comprises these words: liliʻu (smarting), loloku (tearful), walania (a burning pain), and kamakaʻeha (sore eyes). The name Lydia was given at her Christian baptism on December 23. Later, in 1877, upon being named heiress apparent to the throne by her brother, King David Kalākaua, she was given the name “Liliʻuokalani” (“Liliʻu of the heavens”). Crafted by Antone Kaoʻo as an affectionate expression of loyalty to Queen Liliʻuokalani, “Liliʻu e” is actually a modification of a traditional name chant originally composed for a different royal Hawaiian figure (theories include regent Elizabeth Kīnaʻu, Queen Kapiʻolani, and an infant son of Princess Ruth). John Kaulia later set the text to his swaying melody (often referred to as the “Queen’s Hula”), which was likely harmonized first by Charles E. King, followed by myriad renditions by popular Hawaiian bands and orchestras throughout the 1920s-1940s.

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