ʻĀina Uluwehi o Waihī
In 2022 we bought a 2.5-acre lot off Akolea Road in Hilo. The lot ran along the Waipahoehoe Stream in Ponahawai mauka. It was located adjacent to our son Kele's home. After clearing the mauka section of the lot of Waiawi and landscaping the area we wanted to build our new house on, I came up with the idea of writing a song that described the feeling we got whenever we were on our lot. I picked the name Waihi for our house site because of the amount of water that oozed up out of the ground during heavy rains. This name was rejected by Jody because Bobby Camara said Hī is used to describe Dysentery. Place Names Dictionary and several other Dictionaries define Waihī as trickling or oozing water and describe a number of ili land divisions both on Hawaiʻi island and Oahu named Waihī. But I already wrote the sone.
I ka ʻāina uluwehi o Waihī To the lush and beautiful land of Waihī
Ka noe mai nei ho‘opulu With a gentle mist, quenching
ʻĀina uluwehi i ka noe ahiahi Land verdant, in the evening mist
E moani ke ala e Hehei’ulu the fragrance of the hehei’ulu rain
Eia lā he kono e noho ho’omaha here is an invitation to relax
E nanea hoʻi kau na lehulehu An enjoyable stay for everyone
Ka ʻiʻini pau ʻole A ke makemake Never to get enough You are always desired
Kua’aina nani e o Waihī beautiful countryside of Waihī
I ka ʻāina uluwehi o Waihī To the lush and beautiful land of Waihī
Ka noe mai nei ho‘opulu With a gentle mist, quenching
ʻĀina uluwehi i ka noe ahiahi Land verdant, in the evening mist
E moani ke ala e Hehei’ulu the fragrance of the Hehei’ulu rain
He manaʻo ke aloha E ho’i mai noho ana A thought, an upwelling of affection brings me back
E nanea ho’i kau ma ke kahawai an enjoyable place by the stream
ke Kolonahe holo mai i Hilo one mai the kolonahe winds from the beach in Hilo
Ka makaini ho’oanu me ke kino cooling the body
I ka ʻāina uluwehi o Waihī To the lush and beautiful land of Waihī
Ka noe mai nei ho‘opulu With a gentle mist, quenching
ʻĀina uluwehi i ka noe ahiahi Land verdant, in the evening mist
E moani ke ala e Hehei’ulu the fragrance of the Hehei’ulu rain
Haina ia mai ana kapuana Tell the story
Ka wahi hoʻomaha o Waihī The restful place of Waihī
E nanea hoʻi kau I ka ʻāina uluwehi An enjoyable place is a verdant land
I ka ʻāina uluwehi o Waihī the verdant land of Waihī
I ka ʻāina uluwehi o Waihī To the lush and beautiful land of Waihī
Ka noe mai nei ho‘opulu With a gentle mist, quenching
ʻĀina uluwehi i ka noe ahiahi Land verdant, in the evening mist
Kua'aina uluwehi o Waihī The verdant countryside of Waihī