Pupu o Ewa

This is a beautiful old Hawaiian song that was later loosely translated and became the rather cheesy song "Pearly Shells." It is not without charm, though, especially if you sing it as a duet with a 3 year-old. The chords here are for the melody that was written for "Pearly Shells," though Pupu o Ewa may not have been originally sung this way.

Nani ka'ala, hemolele i ka malie, Kuahiwi kaulana a'o ewa, e ki'i ana i ka makoni o ka'aina.
Hea ka moa'e, eia au, e ka aloha.
Kilakila 'o polea noho i ka 'olu la home ho'ohihi a ka malihini, E walea ana ika 'olu o ke kiawe I ka pa kolonahe a ke Kiu.

Shells (of 'Ewa), throngs (of people) coming (to learn) the news of the land,
A land (famous) from the (ancients on).
In the seas of Pearl Harbor, the path trod upon by Ka'ahu'pahau (Ka-'ahupau)
In the seas of Pearl Harbor, the path trod upon by Ka'ahu'pahau.
Beautiful ka'ala sublime in the calm famous mountain of 'Ewa that fetches the Wind of the Land.
The tradwind calls, here I am, beloved.
Majestic Polea in the coolness, home delightful to visitors
Relaxing in the coolness of kiawe and the soft blowing of the Kiu wind.

The words in parenthesis are sung as a second part harmony just slightly after the first words - kind of like an echo or enunciative part.


Pearly Shells

Pearly Shells,
From the ocean,
Shining in the sun,
Covering the shore,
When I see them,
My heart tells me that I love you
More than those little Pearly Shells
More than those little Pearly Shells.

Pearly Shells was recorde by Don Ho, Burl Ives, and a couple of others that I can't find.

My buddies and I do it as a Bluegrass instrumental. Very lovely tune - and the Hawaiian words are the first I've seen - pretty cool though.

Mark Cohen may know more about this song than I since he lives over there.

Steve