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Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī facts for kids

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Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī
English: Hawaii's Own
Flag-of-hawaii-flying.jpg
Regional anthem of Hawaii
Lyrics King David Kalākaua, 1874
Music Captain Henri Berger
Adopted 1967; 57 years ago (1967)

"Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī" ("Hawaii's Own") is the regional anthem of the U.S. state of Hawaii. It previously served as the national anthem of the independent Hawaiian Kingdom during the late 19th century, and has continued to be Hawaii's official anthem ever since annexation by the United States in 1898.

History

Cover of Hawaii Ponoi
King Kalākaua, Hawaii's penultimate monarch and the author of the song's lyrics.

The words were written in 1874 by King David Kalākaua with music composed by Captain Henri Berger, then the king's royal bandmaster. "Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī" is one of the national anthems of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi and also was the national anthem of the Republic of Hawaiʻi.

It was adopted as the national anthem in 1876, replacing Liliuokalani's composition "He Mele Lāhui Hawaiʻi". It was the adopted song of the Territory of Hawaiʻi before becoming the state symbol by an act of the Hawaiʻi State Legislature in 1967. The melody is reminiscent of "God Save the King" and the Prussian anthem "Heil dir im Siegerkranz". "Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī" is commonly sung at sporting events in Hawaii, immediately after the U.S. national anthem. It is sung at many local schools and Local Service Organization Meetings and Events.

In the Hawaiian language, "Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī" means "Hawaiʻi's Own".

Lyrics

Hawaiian original IPA transcription English translation

Hawaiʻi ponoʻī
Nānā i kou mōʻī
Ka lani aliʻi
Ke aliʻi.

Hui:
Makua lani ē,
Kamehameha ē,
Na kāua e pale
Me ka ihe.


Hawaiʻi ponoʻī
Nānā i nā aliʻi
Nā pua muli kou
Nā pōkiʻi.

Hui

Hawaiʻi ponoʻī
E ka lāhui ē
ʻO kāu hana nui
E ui ē.

Hui

[hə.ˈʋɐj.ʔi po.no.ˈʔiː]
[naː.ˈnaː i ˈkow moː.ˈʔiː]
[kə ˈlɐ.ni ə.ˈli.ʔi]
[ke ə.ˈli.ʔi]

[ˈhu.wi]
[mə.ˈku.wə ˈlɐ.ni eː]
[kə.me.hə.ˈmɛ.hə eː]
[nə ˈkaː.wə e ˈpɐ.le]
[me kə ˈi.he]

[hə.ˈʋɐj.ʔi po.no.ˈʔiː]
[naː.ˈnaː i naː ə.ˈli.ʔi]
[naː ˈpu.wə ˈmu.li ˈkow]
[naː poː.ˈti.ʔi]

[ˈhu.wi]

[hə.ˈʋɐj.ʔi po.no.ˈʔiː]
[e kə laː.ˈhu.wi eː]
[ʔo ˈkaː.wu ˈhɐ.nə ˈn(u.)wi]
[e ˈu.wi eː]

[ˈhu.wi]

Hawaii's own,
Loyal to thy king be.
Thine only ruling chief,
Thy liege and lord.

Chorus:
Royal father,
Kamehameha.
We shall defend,
With the spear.

Hawaii's own,
Honor give to thy chiefs,
Of kindred race are we,
Younger descent.

Chorus

Hawaii's own,
People of this our land,
Duty calls fealty,
Guide in the right.

Chorus

Resources

  • Huapala ~ Hawaiian Music and Hula Archives ~ recording of melody available at website
Preceded by
He Mele Lahui Hawaii
National anthem of the Kingdom of Hawaii
1876-1893
Monarchy overthrown
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