Kīlea
In 1981 Jody and I bought a lot in the Royal Gardens Subdivision near the Kalapana section of the Volcano National Park.
In 1982 the Puʻu ʻOʻO eruption of Kilauea occurred sending lava flows into Royal Gardens Subdivision. Two ʻaʻa lava flows covered our lot. But we were able to find our lot because the lava left one of our boundary makers visible on the subdivision road. Based on this we were able to locate our lot. We built a small shack on a cinder hill on our lot which afforded a magnificent view of the coast line. We named this place Kīlea which means small but prominent hill. This is the first song I ever wrote. The English translation is not a word for word translation. Many times there are no English word that match the Hawaiian so English phrases are used to try to capture the Hawaiian meaning. .
Kahua I ka uka o Poupou
Ka pu’u ha’aha’a Kau I ka pali
Nānā i ka ‘aina o Pulama
Kīlea kapa ia ka inoa
Hanau o ka ahi a’o Pele
Onea kou nani Kīlea
Na leo o iwi a me apapane
Lohi a mai na kipuka makai
Malie hemolele mai I luna
Malie I ka nani o Kilea
Haina ia mai ana kapuana
Ka pu’u ha’aha’a kau I ka pali
Malie I ka nani o Kīlea
Auhea Wale Oe Huia
Located in the uplands of Poupou
the humble hill sits at the top of the pali
Looking over the lands of Pulama
Kīlea is the name that is given
Born of the fires of Pele
Simplicity is your beauty Kīlea
The voices of the Iʻiwi and Apapane
Are heard from the Kīpuka below
Perfect calm rest at the top
Clam that is the beauty of Kīlea
Tell the story of
The humble hill placed on the pali
Calm is the beauty of Kīlea
This song is for you Huia
Poupou is a old Hawaiian Village site on the shoreline within the Ahupuaʻa of Pūlama The ag lot subdivision of Royal Gardens is located in the Ahupuaʻa of Pūlama
Huia is Jodyʻs Middle name