By Kekoa K. A. Wong Instructor: Dennis Kawadahara, Ph.D. English 204

Mele no Kuu Pokii

Ia oe ke kanaka hee nalu i Mokapu
E oni nei i ke ale,
I luna nei e iho i ka nalu,
A i lalo nei ka nanu,
Kaluli o Keakaokanaluula ika ehu kai,
Awalai ka lae o Mokapu
Ke weloa a ka papau e,
E tu, a hume a paa ka malo,
kai hee kakala o ka motu,
Kai ka o ka nalu nui,
Kai he nalu i ka po le ao,
He kulana nalu o na mamo,
Aia i ka papa o ka mokapunui
He inoa no Keakaokanaluula
To you, the surf rider of Mokapu
Above the lofty surf
You rise upon the crest
And descend the crest,
Keakaokanaluula sways amidst the sea sprays
The tip of Mokapu swirls,
A wreath in the shallow.
Stand, gird fast the loincloth.
The comber surf strikes the sand
Thrown is the surf, A surf place of descendants.
The surf of great Mokapu.

Author's note: I have chosen to leave out the macrons and okinas because I pattern my writing skills after our elders, Who had no need for the okina and kahako.

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