("He Mele No Kaupo", Nupepa Kuokoa, March 6, 1903)
Kaupo, famous for eating sea cucumbers
The fish with no eyes1 writhing in the sand
Alluring are the eyes of the goatfish
Worked into a frenzy by the net.
I gaze at the beauty
Of the jagged cliffs at Kou.
I am your companion, a fine match
For the days when the sun warms the sea.
Beloved is the calling
Of the Ukiukiu rain pouring down.
Cherished water of Waiu
The water that gushes from the cliff.
There I experienced
The cool water that tingles the throat.
I gazed at the beauty
Of the trickling water of Waialoha.
What fondness for the murmur of the sea
As it gently rustled the stones2.
There can be witnessed the view
Of the net gliding proudly
The moae wind blows
I am soaked by the sea spray.
This has been the story
Of the sea cucumber I crave, a meat with no bones.
Composed by Charles Lake,
Sung to the guitar accompaniment of John Edwards.
Kaupo.
Below is the original Hawaiian text of the song:
HE MELE NO KAUPO.
Kaulana Kaupo i ka ai loli
Ka i’a maka ole oni i ke one
Onaona na maka o ka moano
I ka hiu ia a wela e ka upena.
I kilohi iho wau e ike i ka nani
Na pali nihoniho hoi o Kou.
A o wau kou hoa a e kohu ai
Oiai na la e wela ana o ke kai.
Ka i no aheaha nei mea nui
A ka Ukiukiu a e loku nei.
He aloha kahi wai o Waiu
Ia wai lelehune mai i ka pali.
Ilaila au i ike iho ai
Ia wai hui konikoni i ka puu.
I kilohi iho au ike i ka nani
I kahi wai kulu mai o Waialoha.
He aloha ka leo hone o ke kai
I ka nehe malie i ka iliili.
Ilaila ike maka iho ka ikena
I ka lawe haaheo a ka upena holo
Ho iho kamakani a he moae
Pulu elo au i ka ehu a ke kai.
Haina ia mai ana kapuana
O ka loli ka’u puni he i’o iwi ole.
Hakuia e Chas. Lake,
Walaauia me ka wauwau ana ia ke kika o Jno. Edwards.
Kaupo.
Footnotes