Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī

Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī

King Kalākaua, author of the anthem's lyrics.
State anthem of Hawaiʻi
Lyrics	King David Kalākaua, 1874
Music	Captain Henri Berger
Adopted	1967

Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī is the current state song of the State of Hawaii. The words were written in 1874 by King David Kalākaua with music composed by Captain Henri Berger, then the king's royal bandmaster. Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī was one of the national anthems of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi and also was the National Anthem of the Republic of Hawaii , having replaced Liliuokalani's composition He Mele Lahui Hawaii. It was the adopted song of the Territory of Hawaiʻi before becoming the state symbol by an act of the Hawaiʻi State Legislature in 1967. The melody is reminiscent of God Save the Queen and the Prussian Hymne, Heil dir im Siegerkranz. Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī is commonly sung at sporting events in Hawaiʻi, immediately after the national anthem.

In the Hawaiian language, Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī means "Hawaiʻi's Own".

Lyrics

Hawaiian	English
Hawaiʻi ponoʻī,	Hawaiʻi's own true son,
Nānā i kou mōʻī,	Be loyal to your king,
Kalani aliʻi,	Your country's liege and lord
Ke aliʻi.	The chief.
Hawaiʻi ponoʻī,	Hawaiʻi's own true sons,
Nānā i nā aliʻi,	Look to your chiefs,
Nā pua muli kou,	The children after you,
Nā pōkiʻi.	The young.
Hawaiʻi ponoʻī,	Hawaiʻi's own true sons,
E ka lāhui ē,	People of loyal heart,
ʻO kāu hana nui	The only duty lies
E ui ē.	List and abide.
Hui:	Chorus:
Makua lani ē,	Father above us all,
Kamehameha ē,	Kamehameha e,
Na kaua e pale,	Who guarded in the war,
Me ka ihe.	With his spear.

Resources

• Huapala ~ Hawaiian Music and Hula Archives ~ recording of melody available at website