Until We Meet Again
Cover Image: Masthead of Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, April 19, 1879.
Aloha Nūhou Monday!
Dear Reader,
Over the past few months, we recognized each of the previous FestPAC hosts with posts featuring those island nations and their connections to Hawaiʻi’s own history. It has been an honor for Hawaiʻi to join this list of host nations. We hope that our visiting cousins will hold dear the memories made here with us as we most certainly will with our many memories made with them.
As visiting delegations pack up their belongings to return home, we send with them our aloha. We mahalo them for the sacrifices made to share the beauty of their people and practices here with us in Hawaiʻi and wish them a safe journey back to their homelands across Moananuiākea. With a last embrace shared through the words of our beloved Queen Liliʻuokalani—Farewell to thee, until we meet again.
Image: Liliʻuokalani Songs and Music, “Aloha Oe.” fHI.M.28 p.8. Bishop Museum Archives. SM 213092
Image sharing on social media is welcome. For all other uses please contact Archives@BishopMuseum.org, Bishop Museum Archives.
Image: “Na Mele Hawaii: Aloha Oe.” Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, March 21, 1891, p. 3.
ALOHA ʻOE
[FAREWELL TO THEE]
Words by Her Majesty Queen Liliʻuokalani.
Haʻaheo e ka ua i nā pali,
Ke nihi aʻela i ka nahele,
E uhai ana paha i ka liko
Pua ʻāhihi lei o uka.
Hui:—Aloha ʻoe, aloha ʻoe,
E ke onaona noho i ka lipo,
A fond embrace a hoʻi aʻe au,
Until we meet again.
Ka haliʻa aloha kai hiki mai,
Ke hone aʻe nei i kuʻu manawa,
ʻO ʻoe nō kaʻu ipo aloha
A loko e hana nei.
Maopopo kuʻu ʻike i ka nani,
Nā pua rose o Maunawili,
I laila hoʻohie nā manu,
Mikiʻala i ka nani o ia pua.
[Translation]
Proudly swept the rain by the cliffs
As on it glided through the trees
Still following ever thee
The ʻĀhihi Lehua of the vale.
Chorus
Farewell to thee, farewell to thee,
My charming one who dwells in shady bowers
One fond embrace ere I depart
Until we meet again.
Thus sweet memories come back to me
Bringing ever sweet remembrance of the past
Dearest one thou still art mine own,
From thee my love shall ne’er depart.
I have seen and watched thy loveliness
Oh, sweet rose of Maunawili;
Ah, ’tis there the birds so love to dwell
And sip the honey from your lips.
Image: Personal and State Papers. Original Compositions. Mele. “Aloha Oe, [Hawaiian]” 1878. MS MC Liliʻuokalani 6.4. Bishop Museum Archives. QM 223042
Image sharing on social media is welcome. For all other uses please contact Archives@BishopMuseum.org, Bishop Museum Archives.
Image: Personal and State Papers. Original Compositions. Mele. “Aloha Oe, [English]” 1878. MS MC Liliʻuokalani 6.4. Bishop Museum Archives. QM 223043
Image sharing on social media is welcome. For all other uses please contact Archives@BishopMuseum.org, Bishop Museum Archives.
Image: Studio portrait of Princess Liliʻuokalani, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. Photo by M. Dickson, Bishop Museum Archives. CP 54052
Image sharing on social media is welcome. For all other uses please contact Archives@BishopMuseum.org, Bishop Museum Archives.
Image: Sheet music front cover. “Aloha Oe” (My Love to You) Song and Chorus, composed by Liliuokalani, Princess Regent of Honolulu, Oahu, H. I. Published by Matthias Gray, 206 Post Street, San Francisco, Cal. [1884]. Bishop Museum Archives. SP 221549
Image sharing on social media is welcome. For all other uses please contact Archives@BishopMuseum.org, Bishop Museum Archives.
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.
