Hawaiian Word of the Day: pono’ī
pono’ī: Self, own; private, personal; directly, exactly. ‘O wau pono’ī, his own. Hawai’i pono’ī, Hawaii’s own [own people]. No’u pono’ī kēia, this is my own. I mua pono’ī, directly in front. ‘I’o pono’ī, own flesh and blood. Kona mana’o pono’ī, his personal opinion. Nā hana loio nona pono’ī iho, attorney’s private practice (Pukui & Elbert, 1971).
Hawai’i Pono’ī (The National Anthem of the Hawaiian Kingdom, words by King David Kalākaua, 1874)
Hawai`i pono`ī
Nānā i kou mō`ī
Ka lani ali`i,
Ke ali`i
Hui:
Makua lani ē,
Kamehameha ē,
Na kaua e pale,
Me ka ihe
Hawai`i pono`ī
Nānā i nā ali`i
Nā pua muli kou
Nā pōki`i
Hawai`i pono`ī
E ka lāhui e
`O kāu hana nui
E u`iē
Hawai’i’s own
Look to your King
The Royal Chief
The Chief
Royal Father
Kamehameha
We shall defend
With spears
Hawai’i’s own
Look to your Chiefs
The children after you
The young
Hawai’i’s own
O Nation
Your great duty
Strive