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.
Kauanoeanuhea
Keali'i Reichel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
E Kauanoeanuhea
Huli au i ke onaona
'A'ole i loa'a mai
Aia paha 'oe i luna
I ka malu o Maunaleo
He wehi no ia uka
Na ke ahe a ka Mālie
E hali mai ku'u aloha
He aloha i hi'ipoi 'ia
No nā kau a kau
Eia ho'i ke aloha
No Kauanoeanuhea
He wehi no ia uka
Ka uka o Kānehoa
The song Kauanoeanuhea by Keali'i Reichel is a beautiful Hawaiian chant about a lover who is seeking their beloved named Kauanoeanuhea. The song starts with the lover calling out to Kauanoeanuhea, stating that they are searching for the scent or essence of the beloved but are unable to find it. The next verse talks about Kauanoeanuhea being under the shade of Maunaleo, a famous mountain range in Hawaii. The verse implies that Kauanoeanuhea is adorned with beauty and is considered as a jewel of the mountains. The following verse talks about the breeze from Mālie, which is considered the gentlest breeze in Hawaii, carrying the love of the singer towards Kauanoeanuhea.
The last verse signifies the love that the singer holds for Kauanoeanuhea. The verse signifies that the love is eternal and never-ending. This verse also speaks of Kauanoeanuhea as a beautiful gem on Kanehoa mountain, which indicates how special the beloved is.
Overall, the song is a beautiful tribute to love and the beauty of nature.
Line by Line Meaning
Auhea wale ana 'oe
I am calling out to you
E Kauanoeanuhea
Oh Kauanoeanuhea
Huli au i ke onaona
I searched for the fragrance
'A'ole i loa'a mai
But it did not appear
Aia paha 'oe i luna
Are you up there perhaps
I ka malu o Maunaleo
In the shade of Maunaleo
He wehi no ia uka
It is an adornment for the uplands
Ka uka i Kānehoa
The upland of Kānehoa
Na ke ahe a ka Mālie
Caused by the gentle breeze of Mālie
E hali mai ku'u aloha
My love is carried forth
He aloha i hi'ipoi 'ia
Love that was cherished in sleep
No nā kau a kau
Throughout each and every season
Eia ho'i ke aloha
Here is the love
No Kauanoeanuhea
For Kauanoeanuhea
He wehi no ia uka
It is an adornment for the uplands
Ka uka o Kānehoa
The upland of Kānehoa
Contributed by Riley G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.