Did you know the Hawaiian folk song 'Aloha ʻOe' was written by a princess? Liliʻuokalani, Princess of the Hawaiian Kingdom, wrote it in around 1878.
It is said the the song was inspired by Colonel James Harbottle Boyd's farewell embrace given to Princess Liliʻuokalani (pictured above) during a trip to the Boyd ranch.
'Aloha ʻOe' lyrics
Proudly swept the rain by the cliffs As it glided through the trees Still following ever the bud The ʻāhihi lehua of the vale
Chorus:
Farewell to thee, farewell to thee 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
Refrain
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 ʻOe' Original Hawaiian lyrics
Haʻaheo e ka ua i nā pali Ke nihi aʻela i ka nahele E hahai (uhai) ana paha i ka liko Pua ʻāhihi lehua o uka
Hui:
Aloha ʻoe, aloha ʻoe E ke onaona noho i ka lipo One fond embrace, A hoʻi aʻe au Until we meet again
O ka haliʻa aloha i hiki mai Ke hone aʻe nei i Kuʻu manawa ʻO ʻoe nō kuʻu ipo aloha A loko e hana nei
Tomago: Maopopo kuʻu ʻike i ka nani Nā pua rose o Maunawili I laila hiaʻai nā manu Mikiʻala i ka nani o ka liko
Hui
Main image © National Portrait Gallery, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons