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OHA: Office of Hawaiian Affairs

He Mele no Nā ‘Ōiwi ‘Ōlino

Ua haku ‘ia e ke Ke’ena Kuleana Hawai’i i mele lāhui Hawai’i no ka ‘aha hō’eu’eu kānaka’o Nā ‘Ōiwi ‘Ōlino ma ka Haleali’i ‘o ‘Iolani ma ka lā 15 o ‘Ianuali, 2003.

Verse one and chorus composed by staff of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs as a song for the Hawaiian nation on the occasion of the Nā ‘Ōiwi ‘Ōlino rally at ‘Iolani Palace, January 15, 2003.

The shared creation of four additional verses (completion of four and five in 2007) talks about the required balanced efforts of the mind, body and spirit to successfully advance Native Hawaiian self-determination for the long term.


Mele:

E ō e nā ‘ōiwi ‘ōlino ‘eā
Nā pulapula a Hāloa ‘eā
Mai Hawai’i a Ni’ihau ‘eā
A puni kea o mālamalama ‘eā ē
Answer, O natives, those who seek wisdom
The descendants of Hāloa
From Hawai’i island in the east to Ni’ihau in the west
And around this brilliant world
Kū’ē au i ka hewa, kū’ē!
Kū au i ka pono, kū!
Kū’ē au i ka hewa, kū’ē!
Kū au i ka pono, kū!
I resist injustice, resist!
I stand for righteousness, stand!
I resist injustice, resist!
I stand for righteousness, stand!
Aloha e nā kūpuna kahiko ‘eā
Nāna e ho’oulu mai nei ‘eā
Iā kākou e holo pono ‘eā
A loa’a e ka lei lanakila ‘eā ē
Love to our ancient forebears
Who continue to inspire us
To move forward on a righteous path
That the adornment of victory will be realized
Kū’ē au i ka hewa, kū’ē!
Kū au i ka pono, kū!
Kū’ē au i ka hewa, kū’ē!
Kū au i ka pono, kū!
I resist injustice, resist!
I stand for righteousness, stand!
I resist injustice, resist!
I stand for righteousness, stand!
E hana kākou me ke ahonui ‘eā
A pili me ka hā a ke aloha ‘eā
‘Oiai e kūlia i ka nu’u ‘eā
A kau i ka ‘iu o luna ‘eā ē
Let us work together with patience
Holding close the essence of aloha
As we strive for the very best
Until we achieve our ultimate goal
Kū’ē au i ka hewa, kū’ē!
Kū au i ka pono, kū!
Kū’ē au i ka hewa, kū’ē!
Kū au i ka pono, kū!
I resist injustice, resist!
I stand for righteousness, stand!
I resist injustice, resist!
I stand for righteousness, stand!
Ka’i mai e nā hoa kui lima ‘eā
Lei ‘ia i ka pua lehua ‘eā
Akaka wale ho’i ka mana’o ‘eā
I ka ‘ā o ke ahi awakea ‘eā ē
March forward partners together, arm in arm
Wearing adornments of crimson (lehua)
Thoughts are clear and focused
As the torch is ignited at mid-day
Kū’ē au i ka hewa, kū’ē!
Kū au i ka pono, kū!
Kū’ē au i ka hewa, kū’ē!
Kū au i ka pono, kū!
I resist injustice, resist!
I stand for righteousness, stand!
I resist injustice, resist!
I stand for righteousness, stand!
Welowelo e ka hae Hawai’i ‘eā
I hō’ailona wehi no nā kini ‘eā
Ke Akua pū me kākou ‘eā
I pono ke ea o ka ‘āina ‘eā ē
The Hawaiian flag waves proudly on the breeze
As an adorning symbol of the multitudes
May God be with us always
That the life of the land will be pono
Kū’ē au i ka hewa, kū’ē!
Kū au i ka pono, kū!
Kū’ē au i ka hewa, kū’ē!
Kū au i ka pono, kū!
I resist injustice, resist!
I stand for righteousness, stand!
I resist injustice, resist!
I stand for righteousness, stand!
He mele no nā ‘ōiwi ‘ōlino, kū! A song for the natives who seek wisdom, stand up!

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