Hawai`i `78 - Israel Kamakawiwo`ole

Ua mau ke ea o ka `âina i ka pono `o Hawai'i
Being perpetuated (is) the sovereignty of the land to righteousness/ to balance, Hawai`i
Ua mau ke ea o ka `âina i ka pono `o Hawai'i


If just for a day our king and queen 
Would visit all these islands and saw everything 
How would they feel about the changes of our land
Could you just imagine if they were around 
And saw highways on their sacred grounds 
How would they feel about this modern city life?


Tears would come from each other's eyes
As they would stop to realize 
That our people are in great, great danger now 
How would they feel? 
Would their smiles be content, then cry

Chorus:
Cry for the gods, cry for the people
Cry for the land that was taken away
And then yet you'll find, Hawai'i.


Could you just imagine they came back 
And saw traffic lights and railroad tracks 
How would they feel about this modern city life
Tears would come from each other's eyes 
As they would stop to realize 
That our land is in great, great danger now.


All the fighting that the King has done 
To conquer all these islands, now these condominiums 
How would he feel if he saw Hawai'i nei? 
How would he feel? Would his smile be content, then cry?

(E hana hou i ka hui)
(Repeat chorus)


Ua mau ke ea o ka `âina i ka pono `o Hawai'i 
Ua mau ke ea o ka `âina i ka pono `o Hawai'i.