Halau Ho'omau: He Mele Inoa No Obama (1/18/2009 in DC)

Halau Ho'omau I ka Wai Ola O Hawai'i, under the direction of Kumu Hula Manu Ikaika, perform a name chant in honor of the inauguration of President Barack Obama at the Smithsonian Institution's "Out of Many" festival. Recorded January 18, 2009 at the National Museum of the American Indian. Taken on a camera phone, so please forgive the video quality -- e kala mai ia'u! There's a better-quality video from the halau's Friday performance at    • Halau Ho`omau performs Inauguration Hula f...  

Halau Ho'omau website: http://www.halau.org/
"Out of Many" festival website: http://www.nmai.si.edu/outofmany/

Oli: HE KAMA O HAWAI'I
(Son of Hawai'i)

Nana i ke ali'i, ke kanaka ikaika
(Look at our leader, a strong person is he)
Keiki o ka 'aina i ka pono e
(A child from the land of righteousness)
He pua o Hawaii, i kuhia i alaka'i
(A child of Hawai'i destined to lead)
Nana e ho'oulu i ka pono, aloha e
(Who will make goodness flourish, with aloha)
'Ike 'ia ma ka lani la ka hikina 'ana mai
(Signs in the heavens tell of the coming of a new chief)
Ka 'imi 'ana i ka pono me ke aloha
(Working for righteousness with love)
E ha'aheo mau e ka lei o ka 'aina
(Always be proud, oh child of the land)
Ko aloha la ea, ko aloha la ea
(Keep your love, embody your love)
Paulele 'ia ihola ka hulina
(Belief in change is instilled in the heart)
'Oiai mau ke ea o ka 'aina i ka pono
(For the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness)
I mau aloa'a ka lei o ka lanakila
(Always go forward and receive the garland of victory)
'O ka 'ike kupuna me ke one hanau ka lamaku e malamalama mau e
(May the wisdom of the ancestors and the sands of your birth be the torch to light the way)

E ola mai
Ka pono o ke ao
E aloha e
(May the goodness of the new day live and flourish
Oh, there be the breath of life)

He inoa no Barack Obama
(A name song for Barack Obama)

Mele: HIKI MAILA KE ALI'I HO'OULO
(The leader of inspiration comes)

He mele inoa no Obama
(Name chant in honor of Barack Obama)

E nana i ke ali'i, he kanaka ikaika
(Look at our leader, a strong person is he)
He keiki o ka 'aina kupono la e
(A child from the land of righteousness)
He pua o Hawai'i, i kuhia i alaka'i
(A child of Hawai'i destined to lead)
Nana e ho'oulu i ka pono, aloha e
(Who will make goodness flourish, with aloha)
'Ike 'ia ma ka lani la ka hikina 'ana mai
(Signs in the heavens tell of the coming of a new chief)
Ka 'imi 'ana i ka pono me ke aloha
(Working for righteousness with love)
Paulele 'ia ihola ka hulina
(Belief in change is instilled in the heart)
'Oiai mau ke ea o ka 'aina i ka pono
(For the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness)
Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana
(Let the story be known in the telling)
Hiki mai ke alaka'i e ho'oulu hou
(The leader to renew inspiration has come)

Uluhia maila
ke ola o ka 'aina
(The living essence of the land flourishes)

Aloha no, e
(We offer loving regard, indeed)

He inoa no Barack Obama
(A name song for Barack Obama)

Chant composed by Manu Ikaika, Dec. 7 2008, with language advisor Puakea Nogelmeier.