Oli Kono Manu (for the kumu)

Oli Kono Manu

Eia mai nā lehua
                  The lehua are here

e kau mai ana i luna
             appearing up [in the trees]

e nā manu leo nahenahe               O dear sweet-voiced birds

e inu a kena i ka wai
             Come and drink your fill of the nectar

o nā pua i mohala pono
        of the flowers that have blossomed well

He mai, he mai, he mai ē        Come, come, come

 

This response calls out to the “sweet-voiced birds”, which are the students, whose chant is pleasing to our ears.  Our call states that we offer to them our lehua in full bloom, to drink of and get their fill, in other words, we offer our well-developed talents unto our students to learn as much as they can.  Then a simple invitation, “Come, come, come.”

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