“Old Plantation”
Cover Image: Masthead of Ka Na’i Aupuni published on March 28, 1907.
Many Hawaiian homes and buildings were given a name. Whether it be the house of bones of Kalaikoa called Kauwalua, or the modern palaces like ʻIolani Hale and Keōua Hale, or the drinking establishments like Nekina, or the former school house on the Bishop Museum campus named Hale Bīhopa. The Ward estate, home to Curtis Perry Ward* and Victoria Ward, was not an exception. It was known as Old Plantation.
Popular mele of the time like “Old Plantation,” sometimes appear in the newspapers as a few lines or also the entire song. While this mele is not credited here, it is known to be the composition of Mary Jane Montano with melody by David Nape.
*C. P. Ward was known in Hawaiian as Pepee, Ka Pepee, and Kapepee.
Image: Exterior view of Old Plantation, the Ward residence, on King Street, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. Bishop Museum Archives. SP 204229.
Image sharing on social media is welcome. For all other uses please contact Archives@BishopMuseum.org
Image: “Old Plantation,” Ka Na’i Aupuni, March 28, 1907, p. 3.
OLD PLANTATION.
1 Pua wale mai nō ke aloha
Ka paia pū ʻia e ke ʻala [puīa i ke ʻala]
I ka wai huʻihuʻi aniani
Koʻiawe ka huila wai
Aia i laila ka ʻiʻini
Ka ʻanoʻi o koʻu puʻuwai.
Chorus:
Old Plantation nani ʻoe,
Home pumehana i ke aloha;
I ka ʻolu o ka niu,
I ka poli o ke onaona.
2 Nahenahe ke ʻala o nā pua
I ka pehia e ke kēhau
Hoʻolaʻi nā manu i laila
Hoʻoipo i ke oho o ka niu
Luhi palai i ka nuʻa
Ka ʻolu o ka Old Plantation.
OLD PLANTATION
1 Often I love to think,
Of a corner sweet and dear;
Of water clear as crystal,
Drawn softly by the old windmill;
‘Tis there I love to ponder,
Where my heart yearns ever to be.
Chorus.
Old Plantation, beautiful art thou,
Home warmed by love,
Dwelling ‘neath the shades of the cocoanuts,
In the heart of fragrance.
2 Gently permeates the fragrance of flowers,
Sent forth by the falling dew;
Happily the birds, with their love notes,
Make love to the plumes of the cocoanut trees.
Tenderly drop the silvery leaved ferns on the terrace,
In the shadows of the old plantation.
Image: Windmill at Old Plantation, the Ward Estate, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, Photo by L. E. Edgeworth, March 12, 1906. Bishop Museum Archives. SP 24141.
Image sharing on social media is welcome. For all other uses please contact Archives@BishopMuseum.org
Image: Coconut grove at Old Plantation, the Ward Estate, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, ca. 1890. Bishop Museum Archives. SP 215219.
Image sharing on social media is welcome. For all other uses please contact Archives@BishopMuseum.org
This post is part of He Aupuni Palapala: Preserving and Digitizing the Hawaiian Language Newspapers, a partnership between Bishop Museum and Awaiaulu with assistance from Kamehameha Schools. Mahalo nui loa to Hawaii Tourism Authority for their support. Learn more about this project here.
