Stand Tall my Hawai‘i - Kū‘u ha‘aheo e ku‘u Hawai‘i - by Kumu Hina Wong-Kalu

As the world trembles in the wake of the American elections, it's time to follow and join the example of Hawaiians, and indigenous nations across time, to Stand Tall, Be Fearless and Steadfast, Paddle on in Our Pursuits of Justice, Until our Dignity and Independence is Restored!

A performance during the 2016 Kamehameha Schools Song Contest of Kumu Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu's composition "KŪ HA’AHEO E KU’U HAWAI’I - Stand tall my Hawai‘i." Kumu Hina is a Native Hawaiian teacher, composer, media maker, and cultural director of the Lei Pus Ala Queer Histories of Hawai'i project.

LYRICS

Kaiko’o ka moana kā i lana nei Hawai'i

The sea of Hawai'i surges in turmoil

Nāueue a hālulu ka honua a Haumea

The earth of Haumea rumbles and shakes

Nākulukulu e ka lani ki’eki’e kau mai i luna

The highest of heavens shudder up above

Auē ke aloha ‘ole a ka malihini

Alas! Woeful indeed are the heartless foreigners

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Kū ha’aheo e ku’u Hawai’i

Stand tall my Hawai’i

Mamaka kaua o ku’u ‘āina

Band of warriors of my land

‘O ke ehu kakahiaka o nā ‘ōiwi o Hawai’i nei

The new dawn for our people of Hawai’i is upon us

No ku’u lahui e hā’awi pau a i ola mau

For my nation I give my all so that our legacy lives on

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Auhea wale ‘oukou pū’ali koa o Keawe

Where are you soldiers of Keawe

Me ko Kamalālāwalu la me Kākuhihewa

Along with those of Maui and O'ahu

Alu mai pualu mai me ko Manokalanipō

Unite, join together with those of Kaua'i

Ka’i mai ana me nā kama a Kahelelani

Marching alongside the descendants of Ni'iahu

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E nāue imua e nā poki’i a e inu wai ‘awa’awa

Move forward young ones and drink of the bitter waters

E wiwo’ole a ho’okūpa’a ‘a’ohe hope e ho’i mai ai

Be fearless, steadfast for there is no turning back

A na’i wale nō kākou kaukoe mau i ke ala

Let’s press onward straight on the path of victory

Auē ke aloha ‘ole a ka malihini

Alas! Woeful are the heartless foreigners!

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E lei mau i lei mau kākou e nā mamo aloha

Be honored always oh beloved descendants of the land

I lei wehi ‘a’ali’i wehi nani o ku’u ‘āina

Let us wear the honored ‘a'ali'i of our beloved land

Hoe a mau hoe a mau no ka pono sivila

Paddle on in our pursuits of civil justice

A ho’iho’i hou ‘ia mai ke kū’oko’a

Until our dignity and independence is restored