In 1976, the Mākaha Sons of Ni‘ihau began their professional career with five members, as an opening act in a small nightclub known as “Uptown Yokos.” The group has reorganized several times, with members seeking other professional careers, and the deaths of the Kamakawiwoole brothers.
The Mākaha Sons of Niihau and the Makaha Sons have released 21 CDs, and produced a DVD on their own record label. They have won Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards and Hawaii Music Awards. They produce their own signature concert, “Take a Walk in the Country,” in Hawai‘i each year. They produce and promote young artists in traditional Hawaiian music. They formed the “Mākaha Sons Foundation”.
Hali'ilua
Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lana mâlie
'O ke one kaulana o Keôua lâ,
Me ka 'ihi kapu
Kapukapu nâ maka a'o ka 'ôpua lâ
Ke 'ike aku
Ka 'anapa i ka luna o Ka'awaloa lâ
He pua nani 'oe a he mea laha 'ole lâ
Na ka mâkua
A he lei 'â'î, na ke kûpuna lâ
He mea milimili
Ki'ina ko lei lehua i 'Ôla'a lâ
Lei 'ia mai
I 'ohu no ka wahine e walea ai lâ
Me 'ano'i pua
Mahalo aku wau lâ i ka nani lâ
Mau mea ho'ohihi
Ka'onohiokalâ mâlamalama lâ
Kau kehakeha
'O ke kô a ka Hau anu o Mâ'ihi lâ
'Au i ke kai
Kaomi i ka 'ili o ke kamahele lâ
Me ka 'eha koni
Ha'ina ko lei lehua i 'Ôla'a lâ
Lei 'ia mai
Ka'onohiokalâ, mâlamalama lâ
Kau kehakeha
Beloved, the water of Hâli'ilua
Gently flowing
Famous, the sands of Keôua
With the sacred kapu
The cloud banks are
Seen with new reverence
Sparkling on Ka'awaloa heights
The native blossom
You are a beautiful blossom
A rare thing of her parents
A neck wreath of her ancestors
One to be cherished
Go and get your lehua lei at Ôla'a
Wear it as
An adornment for a woman to enjoy
Like a precious flower
I admire the beauty of
Delightful things
Ka'onohiokalâ, radiant with pride
High above all
The cold breeze of Ma'ihi
Moving out to sea
Pressing the skin of the favored child
Stinging
The refrain of your lehua lei at Ôla'a
Now worn
Ka'onohiokala, radiant with pride
High above all
The lyrics of Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau's song "Hali'ilua" celebrate the natural beauty and sacred significance of Hâli'ilua and Keôua in Hawaii. The song opens with a reference to the beloved Hâli'ilua water, which is described as "gentle flowing." The sands of Keôua are also praised as famous and sacred, with "kapu," meaning forbidden or set apart in a special way. The clouds are seen with new reverence, and the heights of Ka'awaloa sparkle in the light. The lyrics then turn to a description of a beautiful blossom, a rare and cherished thing that is compared to a neck wreath worn by one's ancestors.
The second verse of the song continues the celebration of the natural beauty of Hawaii. The lyrics speak of getting a lehua lei at Ôla'a, which would be worn as an adornment for a woman to enjoy, like a precious flower. The singer admires the beauty of delightful things, and specifically mentions Ka'onohiokalâ, a name that means "the shining one," and is associated with the sparkling light and pride of Hawaii. The song ends on a somber note with a reference to the cold breeze of Ma'ihi moving out to sea and pressing the skin of the favored child, almost like a warning against taking the beauty of Hawaii for granted.
Line by Line Meaning
Aloha kahi wai a'o Hâli'ilua lâ
Beloved, the water of Hâli'ilua gently flowing
Lana mâlie
Softly gliding
'O ke one kaulana o Keôua lâ,
The famous sands of Keôua,
Me ka 'ihi kapu
With the sacred kapu
Kapukapu nâ maka a'o ka 'ôpua lâ
The cloud banks are seen with new reverence
Ke 'ike aku
And it is known
Ka 'anapa i ka luna o Ka'awaloa lâ
Sparkling on Ka'awaloa heights
Maoli pua
The native blossom
He pua nani 'oe a he mea laha 'ole lâ
You are a beautiful blossom, a rare thing of her parents
Na ka mâkua
A gift from your parents
A he lei 'â'î, na ke kûpuna lâ
A neck wreath of her ancestors, one to be cherished
He mea milimili
Treasured
Ki'ina ko lei lehua i 'Ôla'a lâ
Go and get your lehua lei at Ôla'a
Lei 'ia mai
Wear it as an adornment
I 'ohu no ka wahine e walea ai lâ
For a woman to enjoy, like a precious flower
Mahalo aku wau lâ i ka nani lâ
I admire the beauty of delightful things
Mau mea ho'ohihi
Objects of admiration
Ka'onohiokalâ mâlamalama lâ
Ka'onohiokalâ, radiant with pride
Kau kehakeha
High above all
'O ke kô a ka Hau anu o Mâ'ihi lâ
The cold breeze of Ma'ihi moving out to sea
'Au i ke kai
Drifting toward the ocean
Kaomi i ka 'ili o ke kamahele lâ
Pressing the skin of the favored child, stinging
Ha'ina ko lei lehua i 'Ôla'a lâ
The refrain of your lehua lei at Ôla'a
Lei 'ia mai
Now worn
Ka'onohiokalâ, mâlamalama lâ
Ka'onohiokala, radiant with pride
Kau kehakeha
High above all
Contributed by Camilla K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@hiratad004
Aloha kahi wai aʻo Hāliʻilua lā
lana mālie
ʻO ke one kaulana o Keōua lā,
me ka ʻihi kapu
Kapukapu nā maka aʻo ka ʻōpua lā
ke ʻike aku
Ka ʻanapa i ka luna o Kaʻawaloa lā
maoli pua
He pua nani ʻoe a he mea laha ʻole lā
na ka mākua
A he lei ʻāʻī, na ke kūpuna lā
he mea milimili
Kiʻina ko lei lehua i ʻŌlaʻa lā
lei ʻia mai
I ʻohu no ka wahine e walea ai lā
me ʻanoʻi pua
Mahalo aku wau lā i ka nani lā
mau mea hoʻohihi
Kaʻonohiokalā mālamalama lā
kau kehakeha
ʻO ke kō a ka hau anu o Māʻihi lā
ʻau i ke kai
Kaomi i ka ʻili o ke kamahele lā
me ka ʻeha koni
Haʻina ko lei lehua i ʻŌlaʻa lā
lei ʻia mai
Kaʻonohiokalā, mālamalama lā
kau kehakeha
@RobertSJHu
Aloha Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau !!!! Love your singing of Hali'iliua so very much !!! Robert S.J. Hu 10/01/2020.
@jeffreyfinley8654
Original Makaha Sons we were in Makaha in the 80’s and saw them at Buffalo Big Board and all around. Da bes’
@maliakauila6928
concerts at the Waikiki Shell... on the grass. When halau traveled together. The boys would play this song and every halau dancer would jump up to dance right where they stood. That is my great memory of this song. Those were the days!
@Labaron26
Hawaiian Music is the Most beautiful Music this side of Heaven.
@keahelopez7946
Favorite Hawaiian Song!
@Labaron26
I often listen to this type of music long into the morning hours.
@Labaron26
Can't believe I posted this 6 years ago.....I'm 85 now.
@robertjones6853
Down the road of life --- in the Spirit of Aloha!
@carriebowlen1574
there voices sound so good together!
@s3usarmy
My favorite tune when I think of my times in Hawaii