Tells of the natural beauty of Kaua'i, my homeland.

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This is a mele pana or place-name song for the island of Kaua`i. Nohili in the 2nd verse is known today as Barking Sands. The old Hawaiians called it "ke oni kani a o Nohili" or the sounding sands of Nohili. The dry weather causes a dull whoofing sound when one steps on the sand. Verse 3, Mapuana is beyond Hanalei, a place named for the youngest sister of the wahine seeking La`iekawai. Wai`ânapanapa in verse #4 is a pool in Hana and also the name of caves formed when lava tubes collapsed and filled with water. Legend says the water in the pool runs red on the night of Kû. The kapu time of Kû is the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th days of the lunar month.

Aloha a`e au i ku`u `âina
I ke kû kilakila `o Wai`ale`ale

`O ke one kaulana a`o Nohili
`Apo iho â pa`a pono la i ka poli

Nâ hala onaona a`o Mâpuana
E naue `oe i ka `oni a ke kai

Inâ paha `oe â e `ike ai
I ka nani o ka Wai`ânapanapa

Hô`oni`oni iki iho ana `oe
A he honehone i ke kumu o ka hana

Ha`ina `ia mai ana ka puana
Ua nani Kaua`i i ka mâlie

I recall with fondness my homeland
Where Wai`ale`ale stands majestically

The famous sands of Nohili
That one holds in one`s heart

The fragrant hala of Mâpuana
Seems to reach out to the restless sea

If you can only see the beauty
Of the glistening water

Being with you in this peaceful area
To do the things together with you

This is the end of my praise
Of beautiful Kaua`i in the calm