Hoku attended La Pietra: Hawaiสปi School for Girls in Honolulu, Hawaiสปi and studied business at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California.
In 2000 she released her self-titled, debut album. In 2001 she recorded the song "Perfect Day," which was used as the theme song to the film Legally Blonde. It gained even more recognition when J.C.Penney and Sandals Resorts used the song for a series of television advertisements. However, Hoku soon parted ways with her label, Geffen Records, because she didn't want the image that the company created for her. Hoku decided to take a break from the music industry and was not heard from for 5 years.
She was last reported to be working on a second album, scheduled to be released around fall 2006. Rumors began to spread that Hoku was recording a second album. These rumors have been confirmed seeing as how Hoku is now signed to Ola Vista Records. Hoku has stated that she is ready to make a comback into the music industry. This was marked by the release of 5 new songs on her myspace entitled: "Like I Do", "Saturday Morning", "All I Need", "Closer", and "If You Don't Want My Love".
Hoku now lives in Orange County, California, with her husband Jeremy Clements. She occasionally returned home from Los Angeles, California and performed with her musician father, at his Don Ho Show at the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel in Honolulu. He died April 14, 2007.
Listen up
Hoku Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been pushed around
Dragged all over town
And no hope to be found
I've been caught up
In every game there is to play
Love never played out
The way it should've
And here you are telling me
You think you've got love for me
Well listen up baby
Cause the love I've got to give is so sweet
It don't come for free
Are you hearing me?
Better listen up baby
If we're gonna play
We're playing for keeps
My heart is precious property
Better listen to me
Those that have come before
They didn't see me for me
Squandered the pearls of my love
To them I was never enough
But with you, my baby
It's like a whole different song
You make me wanna sing along
Forget I've ever been done wrong
And here you are telling me
You think you've got love for me
Well listen up baby
Cause the love I've got to give is so sweet
It don't come for free
Are you hearing me?
Better listen up baby
If we're gonna play
We're playing for keeps
My heart is precious property
Better listen to me
You better listen baby
Cause I've played the fool
Broken all my own rules
And I won't let it happen again
But if you change my mind
I think we'll live to try
So don't you mess with my head
Listen up baby
Listen up baby
Cause the love I've got to give is so sweet
It don't come for free
Are you hearing me?
Better listen up baby
If we're gonna play
We're playing for keeps
My heart is precious property
Better listen to me
Listen to me
Listen up baby
If we're gonna play
We're playing for keeps
I've been walked on
I've been pushed around
Dragged all over town
And no hope to be found
The lyrics to Hoku's song "Listen Up" are about a woman who has been hurt and taken for granted in the past in relationships. She has been "walked on," "pushed around," and "dragged all over town." She has been caught up in love games that never played out the way they should have. However, she is telling the person she is currently with that the love she has to offer is sweet but won't come for free. She is cautioning them to listen to her and make sure they understand that if they're going to be together, they need to play for keeps because her heart is precious property.
The song speaks to the idea of valuing oneself and not settling for less than what one deserves in relationships. It's a message about standing up for oneself and not being afraid to assert one's worth in relationships. The song also suggests that it's possible to find someone who sees and values us for who we are and makes us forget all the pain of our past relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been walked on
I have been taken advantage of by others, ignored or disrespected
I've been pushed around
People have treated me roughly, physically, or emotionally
Dragged all over town
I have been moved around a lot involuntarily
And no hope to be found
I have lost my hope for a better future
I've been caught up
I have been involved with something that's hard to get out of
In every game there is to play
I have experienced different types of games or situations in life
Love never played out
I have been disappointed in love, and it never worked out the way I expected
The way it should've
My expectations for love have not been met
And here you are telling me
You are now the one who is trying to express your love to me
You think you've got love for me
You believe that you have developed romantic feelings for me
Well listen up baby
Pay attention and take note of what I'm saying
Cause the love I've got to give is so sweet
My love is genuine, and worth cherishing
It don't come for free
My love requires effort, commitment and a mutual reciprocation
Are you hearing me?
Are you listening and understanding my message?
Better listen up baby
It's important for you to pay attention to what I'm saying
If we're gonna play
If we are going to start a romantic relationship
We're playing for keeps
We will be in this relationship for a long time
My heart is precious property
My heart is valuable and something that should not be mistreated
Those that have come before
People in my past relationships
They didn't see me for me
They did not truly understand who I am and what I need in a relationship
Squandered the pearls of my love
They wasted my love, which is valuable
To them I was never enough
They didn't appreciate me, and I couldn't satisfy their needs
But with you, my baby
With you, things are different
It's like a whole different song
Our relationship is different than any others I've experienced
You make me wanna sing along
You bring joy and happiness to my life
Forget I've ever been done wrong
You make me forget about all the pain I have experienced in the past
You better listen baby
You should pay close attention to my thoughts and feelings
Cause I've played the fool
I have previously made dumb decisions in relationships
Broken all my own rules
I have not followed my own advice when it comes to love
And I won't let it happen again
I am determined to not make the same mistakes in future relationships
But if you change my mind
If you can convince me otherwise
I think we'll live to try
I am willing to give us a chance if my mind is changed
So don't you mess with my head
Don't play games with me or cause confusion in my thoughts and feelings
Listen to me
Pay attention to what I'm saying
Contributed by Kaitlyn K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.