Kealiʻi (pronounced Kay-ah-LEE-ee) Reichel was born and raised on the island of Maui. Reichel grew up in the town of Lahaina where he attended Lahainaluna High School, however he spent weekends and summers with his maternal grandmother in the plantation town of Pāʻia. At the age of 24, Reichel was convicted of theft, and was sentenced to community service, which involved a study of Hawaiian culture. This marked a turning point in his life, as he decided to devote the rest of his life to the study and promotion of Hawaiian culture.
Reichel was one of the founding directors for Punana Leo O Maui, a Hawaiian language immersion pre-school. He has taught Hawaiian culture and language at the University of Hawaiʻi's, Maui Community College, and he was the Cultural Resource Specialist and curator at the Bailey House Museum in Wailuku.
E O Mai
Keali'i Reichel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The sighing waters of Kahualoa
Hold back that driven current
O my love, answer me
Restrain those waters
Surging wellsprings, stirring the heart
Glide on those waters as they sparkle
Then, release the torrent
Waters of passion, burning the skin
Indulge until you are satiated
O my beloved, respond to me
The lyrics of Keali'i Reichel's song E O Mai express a yearning for love, and a desire to be acknowledged and responded to by the object of that love. The imagery of two lovers in the waters of Kahualoa creates a sensual and intimate atmosphere, with the singer asking their beloved to hold back the current and acknowledge them. The use of water as a metaphor for love is a common one, with the "surging wellsprings, stirring the heart" reflecting the passionate and powerful feelings the singer has for their lover. The visuals of the sparkling water add to the enchanting and romantic tone of the song.
The second verse intensifies the poetic imagery, with the singer asking their lover to release the "waters of passion, burning the skin", and to indulge in their love until they are "satiated". The lyrics depict a physical and emotional passion that the singer cannot contain, and they implore their lover to respond in kind. The plea for acknowledgement is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the importance of recognition and reciprocation in a romantic relationship.
Overall, the lyrics of E O Mai express a yearning for love, and the intense emotions that come with it. The use of water as a metaphor adds to the sensual and poetic nature of the song, creating a romantic and powerful atmosphere.
Line by Line Meaning
We two in the water
Just the two of us in this moment
The sighing waters of Kahualoa
The calming and soothing waves around us
Hold back that driven current
Let's slow down and take our time
O my love, answer me
Please respond to me and let me know your thoughts
Restrain those waters
Let's keep things gentle and easy
Surging wellsprings, stirring the heart
Although we may be emotional, let's not get carried away
Glide on those waters as they sparkle
Enjoy the moment and let it be beautiful
O my love, acknowledge me
Please recognize me and our togetherness
Then, release the torrent
Finally, let's give it all we've got
Waters of passion, burning the skin
Our love and connection is strong and intense
Indulge until you are satiated
Let's fully immerse ourselves in this moment until we are completely satisfied
O my beloved, respond to me
I need your response and commitment to our love
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@leimanaang
English:
We two in the water
The sighing waters of Kahualoa
Hold back that driven current
O my love, answer me
Restrain those waters
Surging wellsprings, stirring the heart
Glide on those waters as they sparkle
O my love, acknowledge me
Then, release the torrent
Waters of passion, burning the skin
Indulge until you are satiated
O my beloved, respond to me
@emmeehhh
Kaua i kai wai
Wai olohia o Kahualoa
Kokohi i ka wai puhia
E ku'u aloha, e o mai
(Repeat)
Kaomi i ka wai
Wai mapuna ha'ale i ka poli
Pahe'e i ka wai lohia
E ku'u aloha, e o mai
(Repeat)
Puhemo i ka wai
Wai welawela ho'eha i ka 'ili
E inu i ka wai a kena
E ku'u aloha, e o mai
@vassa6483
aloha mai taua
here are the lyrics:
Kāua i ka wai
Wai olohia o Kahualoa
Kokōhi i ka wai puhia
E kuʻu aloha, e ō mai
Kaomi i ka wai
Wai māpuna hāʻale i ka poli
Paheʻe i ka wai lohia
E kuʻu aloha, e ō mai
Puhemo i ka wai
Wai welawela hōʻeha i ka ili
E inu i ka wai a kena
E kuʻu aloha, e ō mai
We two in the water
The sighing waters of Kahualoa
Hold back that driven current
O my love, answer me
Restrain those waters
Surging wellsprings, stirring the heart
Glide on those waters as they sparkle
O my love, acknowledge me
Then, release the torrent
Waters of passion, burning the skin
Indulge until you are satiated
O my beloved, respond to me
@poliahu1121
My Mom would be cooking dinner to this song or sitting in the garage with the door open listening to the rain with this man singing in the background. Miss you mom
@kekoaphillips2062
Akua bless my brada 🙏🏽 I'm sure your mom and my pops are jamming upstairs ☝️🙌Aloooha 🤙🏽
@Orion-Marley-Doobie1111
What a precious, precious memory, Josh! <3 I love that your mama would listen to this alongside the sound of the rain falling. In a way, I feel like this song is rain...like my heart wants to cry bittersweet tears for a love so pure, a love that my heart will always long to connect to will always reach out for, in the most vulnerable of moments. At the risk of sounding like a complete freak, I cry as I write this. :( I hope you feel your mama's presence and love all around you, Josh, every time you open your eyes in the morning, feel pain or joy, fear or love, whether you feel that you are losing or winning in this life, and each & every night as you drift off to sleep and wander off into dreamland. I know without a doubt that her Spirit is with you Always & Forever because TRUE LOVE NEVER DIES!! I do believe now even after feeling the depth of the pain of loss that experiencing that unconditional love is worth every second of the heartbreak that can follow when you feel as though you are forced to say goodbye. Never goodbye love, only Ahui Hou. xo Is that until we meet again in Hawaiian? That is what I mean to say. May God bless, uphold, comfort, heal and renew your heart and soul, beautiful divine-human! <3 May you feel carried through life on the wings of your precious Guardian Angel and your entire team in Spirit....they are holding you tight every time you think of them, talk to them, miss them.... every time you long for the presence and energy of your sweet mom, she is with you, whispering or maybe shouting :) that she loves you beyond measure, in a place that exists both within you and in a place where there is no space or time, only LOVE & LIGHT. I'm sending you so much Love & big bear hugs! Love, Mia, a random rambling mama to a "Joshie", a person who just happens to have been born in King County, & whose soul longs for her beautiful Josh to never EVER forget the feel of her embrace, the sound of her voice, the unconditonal infinite love in her heart for him. x On behalf of your mama, I LOVE YOU, JOSH!, forever ever!! <3<3<3 xoxo
@nlambert9496
Continued sweet memories to you❤️🙏
@bridgetteukaonu5215
Beautiful song. RIP your mommy
@roatafrogier6951
Sweet memories ❤️🎶
@broskilletb.b
I'm from New Zealand and have never been to Hawaii (wish to someday) and yet there is something so resonating about this song. It just speaks to you. I can still remember the first time i heard it, I was 11 and heard it on the hawaiian movie - The Ride. Ever since then, it's never left me. I hope to visit hawaii someday myself. When I do, I'll sit on a north shore beach while the sunsets with this song playing.
@muggaful1067
I love this version and also Josh Tatofi's cover of this song.
@marciareginaferreira6489
🌌#Serendipyti🌅🌈⛵🧭💙🌺🎸🎶🦋🌎🕊
@ltabion
I was born in raised in Hawaii and of Filipino ancestry...even not of Hawaiian blood..the culture and growing up in Hawaii..after being away and moved after 12 years..I still feel Hawaii in my heart and listening to this I can’t help but feel at home even from a distance. Thank you for this beautiful song and talent..I feel much Aloha.