Popular Songs of Hawaii
Ruth, a.k.a. Elayne Kongaika, was raised in the orchard town of Orem, Utah. She married a Polynesian and has had amazing travel experiences.
There are a few Hawaiian songs that are known throughout the United States and internationally. Living in Hawaii, I now know there are hundreds more.
See if you can recognize the ones I am thinking of:
The Hawaiian Wedding Song was written by Charles King in 1926 for his operetta, "Prince of Hawaii." It's Hawaiian name is Ke Kali Nei Au (Waiting Here for You). The English words we are familiar with were written by Al Hoffman and Dick Manning in 1958, and are not a translation of the original Hawaiian words. Elvis Presley sang the Hawaiian Wedding Song in his 1961 movie "Blue Hawaii.
Hawaiian Wedding Song
by Al Hoffman and Dick Manning (1958)
This is the moment
I've waited for
I can hear my heart singing
Soon bells will be ringing
This is the moment
Of sweet Aloha
I will love you longer than forever
Promise me that you will leave me never
Here and now dear,
All my love,
I vow dear
Promise me that you will leave me never
I will love you longer than forever
Now that we are one
Clouds won't hide the sun
Blue skies of Hawaii smile
On this, our wedding day
I do love you with all my heart
One night, in 1948, the composer was suffering aches and pains after attending a hukilau at Laie. He wrote this song, introduced it publicly at a Methodist lu`au in Honolulu and it became an instant success.
I live in Laie and within a mile of the Hukilau Beach where this all began. Our grandchildren love to go to the Hukilau Beach.
Oh, We’re Going to the Hukilau
by Jack Owens
Oh we're going to a hukilau
A huki huki huki huki hukilau
Everybody loves the hukilau
Where the laulau is the kaukau at the luau
We throw our nets out into the sea
And all the amaama come a swimming to me
Oh, we're going to a hukilau
A huki huki huki hukilau
Chorus:
What a beautiful day for fishing
That old Hawaiian way
Where the hukilau nets are swishing
Down in old Laie bay
Oh we're going to a hukilau
A huki huki huki huki hukilau
Everybody loves the hukilau
Where the laulau is the kaukau at the luau
We throw our nets out into the sea
And all the amaama come a swimming to me
Oh, we're going to a hukilau
A huki huki huki hukilau
Tiny Bubbles
Words & music by Leon Pober
Tiny bubbles (tiny bubbles)
In the wine (in the wine)
Make me happy (make me happy)
Make me feel fine (make me feel fine)
Tiny bubbles (tiny bubbles)
Make me warm all over
With a feeling that I'm gonna
Love you till the end of time
Chorus:
So here's to the golden moon
And here's to the silver sea
And mostly here's a toast
To you and me
So here's to the ginger lei
I give to you today
And here's a kiss
That will not fade away
This song was made popular by Don Ho (1960-2007)
Pitman, a musician who came to Hawaii from Canada in 1943, composed this song in 1948. First recorded by Napua Stevens, Bing Crosby and Margaret Whiting, it gained wide exposure on the mainland in the 1950s. This song earned the composer a six-figure revenue in royalties
Beyond The Reef
by Jack Pitman
Beyond the reef
Where the sea is dark and cold
My love has gone
And our dreams grow old
There'll be no tears
There'll be no regretting
Will he remember me
Will he forget?
Chorus:
I'll send a thousand flowers
Where the trade winds blow
I'll send my lonely heart
For I love him so
Someday I know
He'll come back again to me
'Til then my heart will be
Beyond the reef
They composed this song for the 1937 movie "Waikiki Wedding" starring Bing Crosby. It gained popularity again, in 1961, when Elvis Presley used it as the title song for one of his most successful movies
Blue Hawai`i
by Leo Robin and Ralph Rainger
Night and you and blue Hawai`i
The night is heavenly
And you are heaven to me
Lovely you and blue Hawai`i
With all this loveliness
There should be love
Come with me while the moon is on the sea
The night is young and so are we
Dreams come true in blue Hawai`i
And mine could all come true
This magic night of nights with you
Pearly Shells
English lyrics by Webley Edwards & Leon Pober
Pearly Shells (pearly shells)
From the ocean (from the ocean)
Shining in the sun (shining in the sun)
Covering the shore (covering the shore)
When I see them (when I see them)
My heart tells me that I love you
More than all the little pearly shells
More than all those little pearly shells
For every grain of sand upon the beach
I've got a kiss for you
And I've got more left over
For each star that twinkles in the blue
English translation
Proudly swept the rain by the cliffs
As it glided through the trees
Still following ever the bud
The `ahihi lehua of the vale
Chorus:
Farewell to you, farewell to you
The charming one who dwells in the shaded bowers
One fond embrace,
'Ere I depart
Until we meet again
Sweet memories come back to me
Bringing fresh remembrances
Of the past
Dearest one, yes, you are mine own
From you, true love shall never depart
I have seen and watched your loveliness
The sweet rose of Maunawili
And 'tis there the birds of love dwell
And sip the honey from your lips
Aloha `Oe
Words and music by Queen Lili`uokalani
Ha`aheo ka ua i nâ pali
Ke nihi a`ela i ka nahele
E hahai (uhai) ana paha i ka liko
Pua `âhihi lehua o uka
Hui:
Aloha `oe, aloha `oe
E ke onaona noho i ka lipo
One fond embrace,
A ho`i a`e au
Until we meet again
`O ka hali`a aloha i hiki mai
Ke hone a`e nei i
Ku`u manawa
`O `oe nô ka`u ipo aloha
A loko e hana nei
Maopopo ku`u `ike i ka nani
Nâ pua rose o Maunawili
I laila hia`ia nâ manu
Miki`ala i ka nani o ka lipo
This song is sung at several occasions in Hawaii, especially when someone is leaving. It was written in 1878 by the Queen after she turned to admire the view of Kaneohe Bay. She witnessed a particularly affectionate farewell between Colonel James Boyd and a lovely young girl from Maunawili. At the top of the pali, a cloud hung over the mountain peak and slowly floated down Nu`uanu Valley. The queen begam to hum and completed her song as they rode the winding trail down the valley back to Honolulu. Translation by Lili`uokalani
Comments
Elayne (author) from Rocky Mountains on November 12, 2009:
thank you Salsa Dancing for your comments. Yes, we love it here. We live on the North Shore and usually make it to honolulu on the weekends. Aloha.
Salsa Dancing on November 12, 2009:
Hawaiian people are rich and colourful and apprecaite life. I stayed on honolulu for a short period and it was an amazing experience.
Elayne (author) from Rocky Mountains on October 13, 2009:
Thanks M. Rose. Glad you enjoyed the Hawaiian music. The Polynesians have such lovely harmony.
M. Rose from Orange County, CA on October 13, 2009:
Aww I love Hawaiian songs! My favorite part about going to Hawaii is their Hawaiian music radio stations...I wish we had them here. Love your song selections!
Elayne (author) from Rocky Mountains on October 09, 2009:
Thanks Godslittlechild. We have the same taste in Hawaiian songs - yeah!
Godslittlechild on October 09, 2009:
Hawaiin Wedding Song, Pearly Shells and Tiny Bubbles are my three favorite Hawaiin songs. Good hub!
Elayne (author) from Rocky Mountains on October 08, 2009:
Thanks Marie - good to see you on hubpages.
Marie Kinikini on October 08, 2009:
Love these songs too! Oh yes, Such cute models for sure!
Elayne (author) from Rocky Mountains on October 08, 2009:
Thanks Liana. I had great models!
Liana on October 08, 2009:
Love all these songs and the cute picture :)
Elayne (author) from Rocky Mountains on October 08, 2009:
Yes, I love "I'll Remember You", but couldn't list all of them, so I just picked a few. Thanks for reminding us of that great song!!
Karen on October 08, 2009:
I know them all, plus a bunch more. Where is "I'll Remember You"?
Elayne (author) from Rocky Mountains on October 08, 2009:
Thanks! Maybe you can vote on the poll which is half-way down on the right if you like.
breakfastpop on October 08, 2009:
Great hub..Great songs. I actually am familiar with a few of them. Thanks so much.