E Ola Ke Alii Ke Akua
Encyclopedia
E Ola Ke Alii Ke Akua, translated as God Save the King, was one of Hawaii
's four national anthem
s. It was composed in 1860 by Prince William Charles Lunalilo
, who later became King Lunalilo. Prior to 1860, the Kingdom of Hawaii
lacked its own national anthem and had used the British
royal anthem God Save The King. A contest was sponsored in 1860 by Kamehameha IV
, who wanted a song with Hawaiian
lyrics set to the tune of the British anthem. The winning entry was written by the 25-year-old Lunalilo and was reputed to have been written in 20 minutes. Lunalilo was awarded 10 dollars and his composition became Hawaii's first national anthem. It remained Hawaii's national anthem until 1866, when it was replaced by Queen Liliuokalani's composition He Mele Lahui Hawaii
.
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
's four national anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
s. It was composed in 1860 by Prince William Charles Lunalilo
Lunalilo
Lunalilo, born William Charles Lunalilo , was king of the Kingdom of Hawaii from January 8, 1873 until February 3, 1874...
, who later became King Lunalilo. Prior to 1860, the Kingdom of Hawaii
Kingdom of Hawaii
The Kingdom of Hawaii was established during the years 1795 to 1810 with the subjugation of the smaller independent chiefdoms of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lānai, Kauai and Niihau by the chiefdom of Hawaii into one unified government...
lacked its own national anthem and had used the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
royal anthem God Save The King. A contest was sponsored in 1860 by Kamehameha IV
Kamehameha IV
Kamehameha IV, born Alexander Iolani Liholiho Keawenui , reigned as the fourth king of the Kingdom of Hawaii from January 11, 1855 to November 30, 1863.-Early life:...
, who wanted a song with Hawaiian
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
lyrics set to the tune of the British anthem. The winning entry was written by the 25-year-old Lunalilo and was reputed to have been written in 20 minutes. Lunalilo was awarded 10 dollars and his composition became Hawaii's first national anthem. It remained Hawaii's national anthem until 1866, when it was replaced by Queen Liliuokalani's composition He Mele Lahui Hawaii
He Mele Lahui Hawaii
He Mele Lāhui Hawaii was composed in November 1866 at the request of Kamehameha V, who wanted a national anthem to replace the British anthem God Save the King. It replaced Lunalilo's composition E Ola Ke Alii Ke Akua as the national anthem...
.
E Ola Ke Alii Ke Akua
| Ke Akua Mana Mau | Eternal, mighty God |
| Hoomaikai, pōmaikai | Bless us from your bright abode |
| I ka mōī | Our sovereign king |
| Kou lima mana mau | May your all powerful arm |
| Mālama kiai mai | Ward from our sire all harm |
| Ko mākou nei mōī | Let no vile foe alarm |
| Ē ola ē | Long may he reign |
| Ka inoa kamahao | Royal distinguished name |
| Lei nani o mākou | Our beauteous diadem |
| Ē ola ē | Long life be yours |
| Kou ēheu uhi mai | Thy wing spread over our land |
| Pale nā ino e | From every foe defend |
| Kā mākou pule no | To you our prayers ascend |
| Ē ola ē | Long live our king |
| I mua ou mākou | Before Thee |
| Ke alii o nā Alii | King of Kings |
| E aloha mai | Of Whom all nature sings |
| E mau ke ea ē | Our prayer we bring |
| O ke aupuni nei | Oh let our kingdom live |
| E ola mau mākou | Life, peace and union give |
| Me ka mōī | Let all Thy care receive |
| Bless Thou our king |