Hawaii State Song

"Hawai‘i Pono‘i"

Written by King David Kalakaua
Music by Prof. Henry Berger, the Royal Bandmaster

Adopted in 1967.

In 1967, the legislature declared "Hawai‘i Pono‘i" as the official song of Hawaii.

"Hawai‘i Pono‘i"

Word for Word Literal Translation

Hawai`i Pono`î, nânâ i kou mô`î,
Hawai'i's own people, look to your sovereign,

Ka lani ali`i, ke ali`i
The royal/divine/heavenly chief/royalty , the chief/royalty

Chorus:

Makua lani e, Kamehameha e,
Parent royal/divine/heavenly, "The Lonely",

Nâ kaua e pale, me ke ihe.
The wars to protect/ward off, with the spear.

Hawai`i pono`î, nânâ i nâ ali`i,
Hawai`i's own people, look to the chiefs / royalty,

Nâ pua muli kou, nâ pôki`i.
The descendants following yours, the younger siblings.

Chorus:

Hawai`i pono`î, e ka lâhui e,
Hawai`i's own people, o the nation,

`O kâu hana nui, e ui e,
… your work/duty important/big, to turn for help or advice.

Chorus:

Origin of Song:

The Hawaiian Kingdom's national anthem, entitled "Hawai'i Pono'i," was composed by His Majesty King David Kalakaua in 1876 honoring King Kamehameha I, the "Merrie Monarch", founder of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1810.   The music was arranged by Captain Henry Berger, Bandmaster of the Royal Hawaiian Band, and was based on the Prussian hymn "Heil Dir Im Siegerkranz". It served as the national anthem of the Kingdom and the Territory of Hawaii from 1876 to 1893, until the overthrow of the royalty and the annexation of Hawai`i by the United States government. In 1967, the legislature declared it as the official song of Hawaii. Novemeber 16, 1974- Hawai'i Pono'i ("Hawai'i's Own") first performed in Ka-wai-a-Ha'o Church.

According to Emerson Smith, "Hawai'i Pono'i" originated as another version of "God Save the King" with Hawaiian verses by King Kala-kaua but was transmitted into a great anthem through the artistry of Captain Henry Berger. The music and English translation were printed in Smith (1955:vol. 67, no. 4, pp. 14-15, 26) and in Emerson (1909:172).