Ua Kea Kupuna Mahalani
Composed by Lei‘ohu Ryder
March 16, 2000
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Ua kea na ke kai
Hele lei na ‘oiwi
Ku e Ku e me na uhane
Ho’i i ka po’o na ali’i
He na’u oe pili aloha
Me na ka po’e maka’ainana
E ho’omaha me ke kino
Pulama na ka puka mau hia
HUI
Mahalani na moe kihei
E ala na Ke Akua hanau
Ma ke kai oluolu na ka makani
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Come out of the sand dunes
All your bones that have been spread
Marching is the spirit
Come in the darkness my chiefs
My feelings are with much love
For the people of the land
Keeping always in the bossom/my body to keep sacred
You lie inside the hole & all will be done
Cover me when I sleep Mahalani
Growing with God’s blessing
For it is the ocean breeze that will caress you Mahalani
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One Sunday morning an article in the Maui News caught my eye. A plea from some kupuna/ohana caretakers of a special cemetery called Mahalani was made. They needed help to identify some of the unmarked graves. People with knowledge of the cemetery were asked to assist. This cemetery was also threatened by urban development. We called & got involved. This song was first sung at Mahalani Cemetery to rededicate it to the Heaven’s Light. After a testimony at the Maui County Chambers, development was stopped. Mahalani is aligned to Pi’ihana & Hale Ki’i heiau.
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