[My thanks to delux_vivens for sharing this. I'm echoing this from her LJ]

Halau Ho'omau I ka Wai Ola O Hawai'i, under the direction of Kumu Hula Manu Ikaika, perform a name chant in honor of the inauguration of President Barack Obama at the Smithsonian Institution's "Out of Many" festival.

[Recorded January 18, 2009 at the National Museum of the American Indian. ]



He mele inoa no Obama
(Name chant in honor of Barack Obama)

E nana i ke ali'i, he kanaka ikaika
(Look at our leader, a strong person is he)
He keiki o ka 'aina kupono la e
(A child from the land of righteousness)
He pua o Hawai'i, i kuhia i alaka'i
(A child of Hawai'i destined to lead)
Nana e ho'oulu i ka pono, aloha e
(Who will make goodness flourish, with aloha)
'Ike 'ia ma ka lani la ka hikina 'ana mai
(Signs in the heavens tell of the coming of a new chief)
Ka 'imi 'ana i ka pono me ke aloha
(Working for righteousness with love)
Paulele 'ia ihola ka hulina
(Belief in change is instilled in the heart)
'Oiai mau ke ea o ka 'aina i ka pono
(For the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness)
Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana
(Let the story be known in the telling)
Hiki mai ke alaka'i e ho'oulu hou
(The leader to renew inspiration has come)
Uluhia maila
(The living essence)
ke ola o ka 'aina
(of the land flourishes)
Aloha no, e
(We offer loving regard, indeed)
He inoa no Barack Obama
(A name song for Barack Obama)


Chant composed by Manu Ikaika, Dec. 7 2008, with language advisor Puakea Nogelmeier.