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”.
Pua 'Ala Aumoe
Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I honi i ke aumoe
O 'oe kâ i pane mai
I ku'u nui aloha
He pua kû ho'okahi
Ho'ohihi na ka lehulehu
Lehu a lehu ka mana'o
O ka hea wale ana mai
O ka hanu nehe i ka poli
'Olino ha'a mai ana
I ku'u nui aloha
O ka pua 'ala aumoe
'Ala hu'i koni mâ'e'ele
E ane kô ka 'i'ini
I ku'u nui aloha
Puana kêia mele
No ka pua 'ala aumoe
O 'oe ka i pane mai
I ku'u nui aloha
A fragrant flower you are to me
That I kissed at night
You are the answer
To my deeply imbedded love
A flower that stands alone
And admired by many
Revealing numerous meanings
Of this deeply imbedded love
Beckoning to me
A familiar sigh of the heart
Dazzled with numbness
Of this deeply imbedded love
The night blooming jasmine
With a fragrance that chills and tingles to numbness
Almost fulfilling a desire
Of this deeply imbedded love
Here ends this song
Of my fragrant night blooming jasmine
You are the answer
To this deeply imbedded love
The song Pua 'Ala Aumoe by Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau is a beautiful Hawaiian song that revolves around the theme of unrequited love. The lyrics describe the beloved as a fragrant flower that the singer kissed at night. The song is structured as a refrain, with each verse building upon the central theme of the flower, and how it is a constant reminder of the singer's deeply imbedded love for the person who is the subject of the song. The beloved is described as a flower that stands alone and is admired by many, with numerous meanings revealed about the love that the singer holds.
The second verse of the song explores the complex emotions that the singer feels towards the beloved. The singer is beckoned by the beloved, with a familiar sigh of the heart or a 'hanu nehe i ka poli.' The fragrant flower is the night blooming jasmine, with a fragrance that chills and tingles to numbness. The singer is almost fulfilled by the desire that is created by the beloved, yet the love remains unrequited.
The final verse serves as the culmination of the song, with the singer describing the song as an homage to the fragrant night blooming jasmine, the "pua 'ala aumoe." The beloved is once again the answer to the singer's deeply imbedded love, and their presence is a constant reminder of the fragrant flower that symbolizes their emotion. The song is a beautiful ode to the complexities of love, and the ways in which our emotions can be symbolized by the natural world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
He pua 'ala 'oe na'u
You are a fragrant flower to me
I honi i ke aumoe
That I kissed at night
O 'oe kâ i pane mai
You are the answer
I ku'u nui aloha
To my deeply imbedded love
He pua kû ho'okahi
A flower that stands alone
Ho'ohihi na ka lehulehu
And admired by many
Lehu a lehu ka mana'o
Revealing numerous meanings
O ku'u nui aloha
Of this deeply imbedded love
O ka hea wale ana mai
Beckoning to me
O ka hanu nehe i ka poli
A familiar sigh of the heart
'Olino ha'a mai ana
Dazzled with numbness
I ku'u nui aloha
Of this deeply imbedded love
O ka pua 'ala aumoe
The night blooming jasmine
'Ala hu'i koni mâ'e'ele
With a fragrance that chills and tingles to numbness
E ane kô ka 'i'ini
Almost fulfilling a desire
I ku'u nui aloha
Of this deeply imbedded love
Puana kêia mele
Here ends this song
No ka pua 'ala aumoe
Of my fragrant night blooming jasmine
O 'oe ka i pane mai
You are the answer
I ku'u nui aloha
To this deeply imbedded love
Contributed by Brody A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@elizabetharms1126
I'm glad we have you tube so I can listen to music from home
@JamesSmith-ti2hl
I saw them do this song with Jerry at the Shell. Freaking amazing.
@donskinner9430
yOU FOLKS EVER STUDY THE ALBUM COVER ? can see what looks like Lono between the two central coconut palms and I see faces which I interpet as Pele... who can appear young or old... I saw her once... she was sitting in a Lava field wearing a 'Holoku" and barefoot... I didn't realize who she was until after I pass...(Leeward Maui) I had an encounter with the "Night Marchers) real close... they call my name... thank God I never get out my tent (Anae'ho'malu, Big Island) laugh if you want... Hawaii 4eva ! I sure like you Hawaiian folks and your music...thank you for reminding me there is still sanity in the world !
@donskinner9430
Thank God Pele was in a good mood and was smile at me as I bicycle past her... i certain she likes young fit Haole boys... you can study her history and know she is VERY PASSIONATE... and knows the feeling of not getting what you want.... However, if you nice to her, she nice to you... she hates selfish , stingy bastards.. so watch out..