The Hawaiian Language, Our Mother Tongue

The Calling

Ka `Ôlelo Hawai`i,
Ko Mâkou Alelo Makuahine
The Hawaiian Language, Our Mother Tongue

"`A`ole no i `ike `oe i na nani o kona wahi i hânau `ia
ai a e hele aku i kou `âina hânau."
"You do not see how beautiful your birthplace is
until you go away from home."

Ka `Ôlelo Hawai`i gently lifted the fog
before my stuporous eyes.

Gift-wrapped in song and chant,
ka `ôlelo Hawai`i called me,

Sweetly beckoning me back to my motherland,
Home, home to beautiful Hawai`i.

She whispered,"E ho`i mai."
"Return."

With passion, I now seek to speak with her
in ka `ôlelo Hawai`i.
Won't you come along and learn with me?

Together,
we shall marvel at the stately graciousness
of our mother tongue.

Let us imbibe
its expressiveness, wisdom, and spiritual essence.

Let us celebrate its ancient strength,
still vibrant, ever alive,

Fully submitting to its eternal loveliness.

Come, come home with me.
"E ho`i pû kâua!"

E ola mau ka 'ôlelo Hawai'i.
May the Hawaiian language live on.

Aloha a hui hou,
Aunty D

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