Pūolo Lehua
This song was written when my younger son Jake was in the 6th grade. He was having a bad day, well he was having a bad week. In his mind nothing was going his way and he was very upset. There was not much we could tell Jake that made him fell better. Also at this time I was doing some research on some old Hawaiian Chants when I came across these lines that when translated into English said " the Lehua blossom droops when the weight of the rain drops gather on it but the water flows away and the Lehua blossom stands up right again. I then remembered when I was about Jakeʻs age and having a bad week, my father telling me to take a look back and see all the things I had done that I had succeeded at and felt good about. He then assured me that these bad times would pass. Putting the two thoughts together Pūolo Lehua came into my mind. 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.
The sound of the wind blowing through the trees
Takes me back to simpler days
When the only thing that mattered at all
Was where we going to play
When the world was as big as our own back yard
And the stars seemed so far away
I sit and wonder where time has gone
And remember those by gone days
One thing that I really hold dear
Were the words he gave me one day
A day when I thought my world was over
And nothing was going my way
He came to me as he always did
When confused and full of pain
He took my hand and sat me down
And slowly began to say
Take a look back boy
At how far you’ve come
And how strong you are today
Like lehua that bends at the weight of the rain
At the end of a stormy day
He said these words so strong and so clear
I remember them still today
Words that were given to him long ago
That helped him find his way
I ka ua ha’awe pūolo lehua
Eʻole ha’i ka lele
He pā ku, kuehu
Tomorrow’s another day
So take my hand and walk with me
And hear what I have to say
Words that were given to me long ago
I give to you today
I ka ua ha’awe pūolo lehua
Eʻole ha’i ka lele
He pa kū kuehu
Tomorrows’ another day
I ka ua ha’awe Pūolo lehua
Eʻole ha’I ka lele
He pa kū kuehu
Tomorrows’ another day
The conceptual translation refers to the fact that the rain falling in the forest lands on the Lehua blossom weighing down the petals of the flower. But the water does not remain on the flower but flows away.
The kaona here is the rain bends the Lehua flowers but the water flows away going to the ground and into the roots of the ʻōhiʻa tree. This brings nutrients to the tree which in turn furnishes the blossoms so that they become even more brilliant in color
The rain represents the burdens and trials faced in life. But these problems eventually flow away allowing the person to learn and become stronger.
The rain is carried by the Lehua (blossom)
It wonʻt break, it flies
it flows away
The rain is carried by the Lehua (blossom)
It wonʻt break, it flies
it flows away
The rain is carried by the Lehua (blossom)
It wonʻt break, it flies
it flows away