Kaulana Nā Pua is a 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...

 patriotic song written by Ellen Kehoʻohiwaokalani Wright Prendergast in 1893

to protest the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani. The song is also known under the title of Mele Ai Pōhaku, the Stone-Eating Song, or Mele Aloha Āina, the Patriot's Song. It is still popular in 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...

 today, although it is not clear how many non-Hawaiian speaking listeners are aware of the song's historical significance or the profound antipathy to U.S. annexation in its words. The song could be viewed as an act of subterfuge, since to the non-Hawaiian speaking listeners the lively melody gives no hint of the political intensity of the lyrics.

According to Elbert and Mahoe (1970), "The song was considered sacred and not for dancing." However, today hālau hula

Halau hula

A hālau hula is a school in which the ancient Hawaiian dance form called hula is taught. The term comes from hālau, a workshed, and hula, the traditional dance of the Hawaiian Islands. Prior to European contact, the Hawaiian language had no word for "school," as children learned from their parents,...

 perform Kaulana Nā Pua as a hula auana for makuahine (a graceful dance for mature women).

The Hawaiian lyrics,

with one English translation of them, are:

Kaulana nā pua ao Hawaii Kūpaa mahope o ka āina Hiki mai ka elele o ka loko ino Palapala ānunu me ka pākaha	Famous are the children of Hawaiʻi Ever loyal to the land When the evil-hearted messenger comes With his greedy document of extortion
Pane mai Hawaii moku o Keawe        Kōkua nā Hono ao Piilani Kākoo mai Kauai o Mano Paapū me ke one Kākuhihewa	Hawaii, land of Keawe answers The bays of Piilani help Kauai of Mano lends support All are united by the sands of Kākuhihewa
Aole ae kau i ka pūlima Maluna o ka pepa o ka enemi Hoohui āina kūai hewa I ka pono sivila ao ke kanaka	Do not fix a signature To the paper of the enemy With its sin of annexation And sale of the civil rights of the people
Aole mākou ae minamina I ka puukālā a ke aupuni Ua lawa mākou i ka pōhaku I ka ai kamahao o ka āina	We do not value The government's hills of money We are satisfied with the rocks The wondrous food of the land
Mahope mākou o Liliulani A loaʻa e ka pono o ka āina     [alternate stanza:      A kau hou ia e ke kalaunu] Haina ia mai ana ka puana Ka poe i aloha i ka ʻāina	We support Liliuokalani Who has won the rights of the land     [alternate stanza:      She will be crowned again] The story is told Of the people who love the land

The "government" referred to in the song is the Provisional Government of Hawaii

Provisional Government of Hawaii

The Provisional Government of Hawaii abbreviated "P.G." was proclaimed on January 17, 1893 by the 13 member Committee of Safety under the leadership of Sanford B. Dole...

 proclaimed by the conspirators upon seizing power. Mrs. Prendergast composed the song for the Royal Hawaiian Band

Royal Hawaiian Band

The Royal Hawaiian Band is the oldest and only full-time municipal band in the United States. At present a body of the City & County of Honolulu, the Royal Hawaiian Band has been entertaining Honolulu residents and visitors since its inception in 1836 by Kamehameha III...

, who:

… had just walked out on their jobs after the bandmaster demanded they sign an oath of loyalty to the Provisional Government… . The bandmaster said they had better sign or they would be eating rocks. It is obvious that they meant it was not right to sell one’s country or loyalty to one's country for money. If we hold onto the land, the land will always feed us. … [L]and endures. http://www.honoluluweekly.com/archives/coverstory%202003/01-08-03%20kaukaku/01-08-03%20kakukaku.html

—Noenoe Silva, assistant professor in political science, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, in Honolulu Weekly

Honolulu Weekly

Honolulu Weekly is an alternative weekly newspaper published in Honolulu, Hawaii. Founded by Laurie V. Carlson, it began publishing in the summer of 1991, ostensibly to fill gaps in investigative reporting left by the two main dailies, Honolulu Star-Bulletin and The Honolulu Advertiser, which were...

The Hawaiian Renaissance

Hawaiian Renaissance

The First and Second Hawaiian Renaissance was the Hawaiian resurgence of a distinct cultural identity that draws upon traditional kānaka maoli culture, with a significant divergence from the tourism-based "culture" which Hawaii was previously known for worldwide .-First Hawaiian...

 has lent the song Kaulana Nā Pua renewed significance in recent years. Its words are often cited in the context of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement

Hawaiian sovereignty movement

The Hawaiian sovereignty movement is a political movement seeking some form of sovereignty for Hawai'i. Generally, the movement's focus is on self-determination and self-governance, either for Hawaiʻi as an independent nation, or for people of whole or part native Hawaiian ancestry, or for...

as an expression of opposition to U.S. rule.