Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī

Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī

King Kalakaua, author of the anthem's lyrics.
State anthem of Hawaiʻi
Lyrics	King David Kalākaua, 1874
Music	Captain Henri Berger
Adopted	1967

Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī is the state song and former national anthem of Hawaiʻi. 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 was one of the national anthems of the Republic of Hawaiʻi and the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, having replaced Liliuokalani's compostition He Mele Lahui Hawaii. 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 Queen and the Prussian Hymne, Heil dir im Siegerkranz.

In the Hawaiian language, Hawaiʻi ponoʻī means "Hawaiʻi's own".

Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī

Hawaiian	English
Hawaiʻi ponoʻī,	Hawaiʻi's own true sons,
Nānā i kou moʻī,	Be loyal to your king,
Kalani aliʻi,	Your country's liege and lord
Ke aliʻi.	The chief.
Hawaiʻi ponoʻī,	Hawaiʻi's own true sons,
Nānā i nā aliʻi,	Look to your chiefs,
Nā pua muli kou,	The children after you,
Nā pōkiʻi.	The young.
Hawaiʻi ponoʻī,	Hawaiʻi's own true sons,
E ka lahui ē,	People of loyal heart,
ʻO kāu hana nui	The only duty lies
E ui ē.	List and abide.
Hui:	Chorus:
Makua lani ē,	Father above us all,
Kamehameha ē,	Kamehameha e,
Na kaua e pale,	Who guarded in the war,
Me ka ihe.	With his spear.

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 abolished