Aloha Oe, a bit about the song

Facts and my personal facts :)

Song "Aloha Oe" is deeply connected with Susan Pa'iniu Floyd, my teacher of Hawaiian "Healing Art" Lomi Lomi Nui. My first course with Susan happened in 2004 and I remember that deep silence when she sang this song at the end of the last day. Last verses were "A ho'i a'e au ... until we meet again". I knew we will meet again. And we did, and still we do.

Sounding Aloha Oe it's just charming. I don't know, who "invented" such a harmonious word "Aloha" and word connection "Aloha Oe". Just saying it aloud brings a harmony and relief (for me). When I hear Aloha Oe, it's like whole Existence would wisper about Love. Or as if ocean wave has just reached the shore. Or as if mild breeze would calm restless mind... so needed.

Some "facts" about the origin of this song (well, who knows, how it really was): According to Wikipedia, the online encyclopedy, Aloha 'Oe is a song written by the last queen of Hawai'i, Lili'uokalani (1838-1917). She wrote both the lyrics and the music of the song after the Hawaiian islands were officially annexed by the United States of America in 1898. Now the piece is often sung to bid farewell to departing loved ones.

It is said, that the origin for the melody of Aloha Oe is a Croatian song from region of Srijem called Sidi Mara na kamen studencu. And, Sidi Mara na kamen studencu has an Austro-German version called Die Träne, and also the English version The Tear.

It is also said, that Hawaiian music is the creation of a German bandmaister captain Henry Berger (1844-1929), who was invited to Hawaii by the king Kamehameha V in 1872. Berger composed the first Hawaiian songs, which were adapted from German folk tunes. Berger composed 72 Hawaiian songs, including Aloha Oe and the Hawaiian national song. The "German tune" adapted to Hawaiian Aloha Oe was in fact Croatian song "Sidi Mara...", which Berger obviously knew as "Die Träne."

Uff.

Anyway. Lyrics in Hawaiian language goes like this:

Ha'aheo ka ua i nâ pali
Ke nihi a'ela i ka nahele
E hahai (uhai) ana paha i ka liko
Pua 'âhihi lehua o uka

Hui:
Aloha 'oe, aloha 'oe
E ke onaona noho i ka lipo
One fond embrace,
A ho'i a'e au
Until we meet again

'O ka hali'a aloha i hiki mai
Ke hone a'e nei i
Ku'u manawa
'O 'oe nô ka'u ipo aloha
A loko e hana nei

Maopopo ku'u 'ike i ka nani
Nâ pua rose o Maunawili
I laila hia'a nâ manu
Miki`ala i ka nani o ka lipo

And translated to English:

Proudly swept the rain by the cliffs
As it glided through the trees
Still following ever the bud
The 'ahihi lehua of the vale

Chorus:
Farewell to thee, farewell to thee
The charming one who dwells in the shaded bowers
One fond embrace,
'Ere I depart
Until we meet again

Sweet memories come back to me
Bringing fresh remembrances
Of the past
Dearest one, yes, you are mine own
From you, true love shall never depart

I have seen and watched your loveliness
The sweet rose of Maunawili
And 'tis there the birds of love dwell
And sip the honey from your lips

And here you can listen Susan singing Aloha Oe in Hawaiian/English.