Lā ’Elima Lyrics

Read the complete lyrics to “Lā ’Elima” by Bry (IRE) from the album “Songs”. Browse more Bry (IRE) songs or search for other tracks.

Artist Bry (IRE)

Album Songs

Length ~1 min read (41 words)

About “Lā ’Elima”

Miloli`i (fine twist or small swirling) was a fishing village renowned for its sennit (may have been named for an expert sennit twister who once lived there). This mele (song) immortalizes the miraculous events caused by the magnitude 7.3 – 8.0 earthquake and destructive tsunami that struck the village Apr 2, 1868. Written and oral history about and from Miloliʻi confirm there was no loss of life, missing children were led to safety in caves and rescued 5 days later, and Hauʻoli Ka Manaʻo Church was lifted by the water and moved inland with little or no damage. The kapuna from other South Kona communities joined the village in thanksgiving, at the ʻaha ʻaina kai, lasting several days. The transpositional words epitomize an old style of haku mele that has been lost, i.e. Verse 1, stanza 1 seems to imply the earthquake occurred on Feb. 5 rather than Apr. 2. If pēpē lua ī is used, the translation would read, “baby in cold cavern”

Lā `elima o Pepeluali
Waimaka helele'I ke alanui
Paiki pu'olo pa'a I ka lima
Waimaka helele'I I ke alanui!

Penei pepe 'alala nei
He hu'I ma'e'ele kou nui kino

Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana
He mele he inoa no Miloli'i