Lyr Add: Cock-Eyed Mayor of Kaunakakai (A Anderson

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cock-eyed mayor of Kaunakakai
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Mar 06 - 07:30 PM

"Malo" is a sort of loincloth. "Panini" is a cactus, and lei of kikania(which is a variety of thornapple) is the traditional lei of Kaluapapa, which was the leper colony--it is considered to be a lei for losers, and is bad luck for those running for political office--malahini haole, in case you didn't know, and forgot to ask, is a a white person who has just come to the islands.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cock-eyed mayor of Kaunakakai
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 26 Mar 06 - 03:53 PM

malihini haole- a white newcomer (a dumb-ass white).
oke- okolehao. Hawaiian moonshine. Made from baked, fermented Ti root. A civilized version is now obtainable in the liquor section of some Hawaiian stores.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cock-eyed mayor of Kaunakakai
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 26 Mar 06 - 03:39 PM

malo- loin cloth
kikania- the spiny perennial Popolo; a lei made of the small, round,orange fruits of this slightly poisonous plant. Belongs to the nightshade family.
Panini- the night-blooming Cereus; a cactus.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cock-eyed mayor of Kaunakakai
From: chico
Date: 26 Mar 06 - 02:28 PM

Anyone know what "Malo" hat means? What is malo?

What is pânini

lei of kîkânia?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cock-eyed mayor of Kaunakakai
From: GUEST,M.Ted
Date: 26 Mar 06 - 02:51 AM

Thanks for posting this!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cock-eyed mayor of Kaunakakai
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 25 Mar 06 - 08:46 PM

Surprised this one wasn't already in Mudcat.
The song was written (copyright 1935) by (R.) Alex Anderson. Since then, the honorary title has been held by a number of well-known (in Moloka'i) people.

The song was a hit for The Andrews Sisters, but in Hawai'i, the version by Hilo Hattie (Decca 194, 78) was preferred.

Subject: Lyr Add: COCK-EYED MAYOR OF KAUNAKAKAI
From: chico
Date: 25 Mar 06 - 03:50 PM

       G     D7         G      D7  
  He wore a malo and a coconut hat
  One was for this and the other for that
  All the people shouted as he went by
  He was the cockeyed mayor of Kaunakakai
  
  B7                 E7
  He was just a lazy malihini haole boy
      A7
  But all the girls were crazy
       D7                    G°
  To share his fish and poi, Oh
  
  He wore a lei and he wore a smile
  He drank a gallon of oke to make life worthwhile
  Then he made 'em laugh 'til he made 'em cry
  He was the cockeyed mayor of Kaunakakai
  
  The horse he rode was skinny
  A broken down old female
  So he placed a big pânini
  Right under that horse's tail, Oh
  
  He made her buck and he made her fly
  All over the island of Moloka'i
  You could hear the kanes and wahines cheer
  As they gave him a lei of kîkânia
  
  Now you've heard my story
  About the mayor of Kaunakakai
  All his fame and glory
  On the island of Moloka'i
   

[Source Copyright Edward B. Marks Music Corp - Paul Fagan, owner of Pu'uhoku Ranch, Moloka'i requested a song for his special guest, movie star, Warner Baxter, in 1934. The mythical mayor became cockeyed because the last two syllables rhymed with Kaunakakai. Although Baxter liked the tune and lyrics, his studio did not, fearing it would create a bad image of drunkeness for Hollywood. Poi is made from the popular taro plant: the 14th most cultivated crop on earth.]