He Mele no Nā 'Ōiwi 'Ōlino

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) manifests passage of legislation for Native Hawaiian Recognition and the required balanced efforts of the mind, body and spirit to successfully advance Native Hawaiian self-determination for the long term.
 
 
MP3 Audio downloads:    
Introduction by 
OHA Trustee Chair 
Haunani Apoliona
Mana'o on 
Nā ʻŌiwi ʻŌlinolino by 
Kupuna Malia Craver
He Mele No Nā ʻŌiwi ʻŌlino complete

 

Download lyric sheet Word doc | Download lyric sheet PDF

He Mele No Nā 'Ōiwi 'Ōlino

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
Hui:

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!
Chorus:

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
ove to our ancient forebears

Who continue to inspire us

To move forward on a righteous path

That the adornment of victory will be realized
Hui:

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!
Chorus:

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
Hui:

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!
Chorus:

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
Hui:

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!
Chorus:

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
Hui:

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!
Chorus:

I resist injustice, resist!
I stand for righteousness, stand!
I resist injustice, resist!
I stand for righteousness, stand!
Huehuelo:

He mele no nā 'ōiwi 'ōlino, kū!
Coda:

A song for the natives who seek wisdom,
stand up!