Did you know that the Hawaiian islands have had a total of four national anthems? "He Mele Lahui Hawaii" was the national anthem of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1866-1876 and was written and composed by the last reigning queen of Hawaii, Queen Liliʻuokalani. Liliʻuokalani's memoir, Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen, stated: "In the early years of the reign of Kamehameha V. he brought to my notice the fact that the Hawaiian people had no national air. Each nation, he said, but ours had its statement of patriotism and love of country in its own music; but we were using for that purpose on state occasions the time-honored British anthem, "God save the Queen." By July 1867, the song was printed and was available for purchase in Honolulu, becoming the first of her compositions ever published. Though not used today as the state song, Liliʻuokalani's composition is still loved and sung by Hawaiians. Hope you enjoy! In case anyone's interest, I've linked Liliʻuokalani's entire memoir to this card! ENGLISH LYRICS Almighty Father bend thine ear And listen to a nation's prayer That lowly bows before thy throne And seeks thy fostering care Grant your peace throughout the land Over these sunny sea girt isles Keep the nation's life, oh Lord, And on our sovereign smile Chorus: Grant your peace throughout the land Over these sunny isles Keep the nations life, oh Lord And upon our sovereign smile Guard him with your tender care Give him length of years to reign On the throne his fathers won Bless the nation once again Give the king your loving grace And with wisdom from on high Prosperous lead his people on As beneath your watchful eye Grant your peace throughout the land Bless O Lord our country's chiefs Grant them wisdom so to live That our people may be saved And to You the glory give Watch over us day by day King and people with your love For our hope is all in You Bless us, You who reign above Grant your peace throughout the land HAWAIIAN LYRICS: Ka Makua mana loa Maliu mai iā mākou E hāliu aku nei Me ka naʻau haʻahaʻa E mau ka maluhia O nei pae ʻāina Mai Hawaiʻi a Niʻihau Ma lalo o kou malu Chorus: E mau ke ea o ka ʻāina Ma kou pono mau A ma kou mana nui E ola e ola ka mōʻī E ka haku mālama mai I ko mākou nei mōʻī E mau kona noho ʻana Maluna o ka noho aliʻi Hāʻawi mai i ke aloha Maloko a kona naʻau A ma kou ahonui E ola e ola ka mōʻī Hoʻoho e mau ke Ma lalo o kou aloha nui Nā Liʻi o ke Aupuni Me nā makaʻāinana Ka lehulehu nō a pau Kiaʻi mai iā lākou Me ke aloha ahonui E ola nō mākou I kou mana mau E mau ke ea
