Remarks:
A song by and for Native Hawaiians. It begins and ends with the words of King Kamehameha III, which later became Hawaii’s state motto. As you might gather from the song, Kamakawiwoʻole was for Hawaiian independence. The ’78 is for 1978, when the song first came out.
He is better known for his cover of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”, having been used repeatedly in US film and television.
Thanks to Solitaire for suggesting this song.
See also:
Lyrics:
Ua mau, ke ea o ka aina, i ka pono, o Hawai’i
Ua mau, ke ea o ka aina, i ka pono, o Hawai’i
(The Life of the Land is Perpetuated in Righteousness)
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 others eyes
As they would stop to realize
That our people are in great great danger now
How, would they feel, could 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 others eyes
As they would stop to realize
That our land is in great great danger now
All the fighting that the king had 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
[Chorus]
Ua mau, ke ea o ka aina, i ka pono, o Hawai’i
Ua mau, ke ea o ka aina, i ka pono, o Hawai’i
May he rest in peace he has a beautiful medley of Somewhere Over The Rainbow and What A Wonderful World that i listen to on Pandora. His voice was very angelic it moved me emotionally.
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@ Abagond
Thank you.
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King Kamehameha appears to be more of a phenotypical kneegro than anything else; just as the vast majority of the Hawaiian populace circa the late 1800s. That is, until the Europeans trampled upon these peaceful people’s land with their penchant for unbridled violence, annexation and eventually, destruction of culture by an alien force and trodden under by white hegemony.
White Southerners, who settled the Hawaiian islands during the 19th Century had a song about the native people which ran, “You may call them Hawaiian, but they look like niggers to me.”
“As might be expected, however, there is or was some prejudice against African Americans. Racial conditions were proceeding harmoniously until about 1912 when it was reported that the 25th Infantry, Negro was coming to Hawaii. The white soldiers there, some 8000 strong, at once started a propaganda against them, warning the Hawaiian women not to associate with the Negroes as “they had venereal disease” and would “make them give birth to monkeys.” When the Negro troops arrive they found a chilly reception, but since the Negroes were good spenders and good lovers, the situation quickly changed. This caused several riots with the white troops. The Negroes were finally removed.” – J.A. Rogers in Sex and Race, page 78, Historian
“The basic strain of the original Hawaiians, as seen in their color and their faces,” Negro Mixing In All Ages and All Lands, “was undoubtedly Negro, with an admixture of Mongolian.” – J.A. Rogers in Sex and Race, page 78, Historian
https://books.google.com/books?id=lSwIBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA77&lpg=PA77&dq=%E2%80%9CYou+may+call+them+Hawaiian,+but+they+look+like+niggers+to+me.%E2%80%9D&source=bl&ots=eOD7zvVLQd&sig=TVsBindiAyPThbP2uliEauepMlc&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjzybqwjvDTAhVV4mMKHYuDB0EQ6AEIQjAG#v=onepage&q=%E2%80%9CYou%20may%20call%20them%20Hawaiian%2C%20but%20they%20look%20like%20niggers%20to%20me.%E2%80%9D&f=false
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As the island of Puerto Rico faces a $70 billion in debt to American Hedge fund vultures. Some are looking towards becoming a state of the union for relief. As property of the U.S. how does a debt that huge happen without the blessing of Uncle Sam. To even think of wanting to become a state of the union will be devastating to the future of the island and our people just a the natives of Hawaii.
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The Google Doodle for today is in honor of IZ, on what would have been his 61st birthday.
The Doodle links to this video:
(https://m.youtube.com/watch?ictx=1&v=fMSezPwq2js)
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Although IZ wrote many beautiful songs, the two that he’s most remembered for — “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “Hawai’i ’78” — are both covers.
On the mainland he’s known for his rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” But in Hawai’i, this song is his legacy.
On the 40th anniversary of “Hawai’i ’78” a new version was recorded by a multi-artist collaboration (link below).
The singers at the 3:11 mark are the surviving members of IZ’s first musical group, the Makaha Sons of Ni’ihau, formed in 1976.
(https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HVuvKIFa6kc)
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When the struggle is so severe and the plight of your people are beyond disarray because you got zilch political power.. You gotta make sure you can eat healthy and live healthy. Back to the basics without unnecessary luxury goods. Then you got a fighting chance.
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