The Moloka'i native felt a special connection to the land — Helm coined the phrase aloha 'aina, which is Hawaiian for love of the land — and he joined the first group of activists to make an illegal landing on Kaho'olawe on Jan. 4, 1976.
The visit triggered an activist movement among Hawaiians and their supporters. They formed Protect Kaho'olawe Ohana and engaged in numerous other landings, which got some of them jailed.
Helm was a spiritual and charismatic man who was an influential part of the movement. He was moved by what he experienced on Kaho'olawe and believed that peaceful civil disobedience, which included civilian occupation, would lead to the island's return. Helm was a skilled activist, too, dealing with the media while planning future landings. He appealed to lawmakers in Honolulu and Washington.
Helm would never live to see the day the military stopped bombing the island. In early 1977, Helm and his cousin Kimo Mitchell disappeared during a visit to Kaho'olawe.
Emmett Aluli said the legacy of Helm, Mitchell and others linked to the Kaho'olawe Nine serves as an inspiration for younger generations.
Waikiki
George Helm Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At night when the shadows are falling
I hear your rolling surf calling
Calling and calling to me
Waikīkī
It's for you that my heart is yearning
My thoughts are always returning
Your tropic nights
And your wonderful charms
Are ever in my memory
I recall when I held in my arms
An angel sweet, so heavenly
Waikīkī,
My whole life is empty without you
I miss that magic about you
Magic beside the sea
Magic of Waikīkī
The song "Waikīkī" by George Helm is a beautiful tribute to the stunning scenery and soulful energy of the Hawaiian island of Waikīkī. In the opening lines, the singer yearns for the sound of the rolling surf, which echoes through the night like a call to the heart. Despite being physically separated from this place by an ocean, the singer's thoughts always return to Waikīkī, revealing a deep emotional connection to the land and its people.
As the lyrics unfold, we learn that the singer has treasured memories of holding an angelic figure in their arms in this same place, underscoring the idea that Waikīkī is a site of profound beauty and love. The refrain of the song reinforces this, emphasizing that the magic of the land lies not just in its physical charms, but in the way it makes one feel. The final line of the song, which repeats the place name with emphasis, seals the impression that Waikīkī is a special and powerful location that has moved the singer in ways that are difficult to articulate.
Overall, Helm's "Waikīkī" is a testament to the power of place and the way in which natural beauty can stir the heart and soul. It shows that, even when we are removed from our beloved homes or far from the places that mean the world to us, the connection we feel to these special locations endures.
Line by Line Meaning
Waikīkī
The singer is addressing Waikiki, a place that is significant to them.
At night when the shadows are falling
During nighttime when everything is darkening, the singer hears something.
I hear your rolling surf calling
The source of the singer's auditory notice is the sound of the ocean's waves rolling onto shore.
Calling and calling to me
The waves are continually making noise, repeatedly and persistently trying to get the artist's attention.
It's for you that my heart is yearning
The artist is deeply longing for Waikiki.
My thoughts are always returning
The singer's mind frequently thinks about and fixates on Waikiki.
Out there to you, across the sea
Waikiki is located far away, somewhere on the other side of the ocean.
Your tropic nights
The climate at Waikiki is warm and tropical.
And your wonderful charms
Waikiki is a delightful location with plenty of attractions and activities to enjoy.
Are ever in my memory
Memories of Waikiki are always in the artist's recollection, occupying their thoughts.
I recall when I held in my arms
The singer remembers holding someone special and sweet when they were at Waikiki.
An angel sweet, so heavenly
The person the artist held was an angelic being who they perceived to be divine.
My whole life is empty without you
The singer's life feels meaningless and incomplete without Waikiki in it.
I miss that magic about you
The singer misses the enchanting and miraculous experiences that Waikiki provides.
Magic beside the sea
Waikiki possesses a remarkable quality that is alongside the ocean
Magic of Waikīkī
The artist believes that there is something truly marvelous about Waikiki, which they describe as 'magic.'
Writer(s): Cummings
Contributed by Jordan B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.