Nā Lani Laʻ a – The Holy Sovereigns

na Leilehua Yuen 2017

He lei keia no Nā Lanilaʻ a
Elua ʻ oi o ke ao nei
E mau ō nā kapu ʻ ihi lani
Ō nā lei lili makaʻ āinana

E lilo ana na kāhiko ʻ Emalani
Kūkulu ana ka hale lapaʻ au
Ola hou nā pua o ka ʻ āina
Na ka akamai o ʻ Iolani

Ua kau ō lei i ka waha
I ka nuku o nā pua
A me nā kumu kula o ka ʻ āina
A he aloha laha ʻ ole i ka uka

Ua pono nō ʻ olua ke lilo
Ua lohe nā kupa o kahiki
I ka hana lokomaikaʻ i nui
A nā naʻ au lani haʻ ahaʻ a

Pehea mākou nā pua o ka ʻ āina
He aha ka hana i keia lā
E hoʻ opaʻ a ana, ʻ ohi kākou nā laʻ au
E kōhi ana nāpele ʻ āina

He inoa no Nā Lanilaʻ a

Image illustrates Hawaiian royalty, King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma. — King Kamehameha IV of Hawaiʻi and Queen Emma

The Holy Sovereigns

This is a lei for the Holy Sovereigns
Two foremost of the world
May your sacred heavenly kapu be eternal
Your lei is the anguish of the people

The jewels of Heavenly Emma were transformed
A hospital was built
Life was restored for the flowers of the land
By the acumen of the king

Your fame is much discussed
Even from the mouths of children
And the teachers of this land
A love unmatched on these shores

It is right you are transformed
The people of distant lands heard
About the many good deeds
Of your humble souls

And what of us, the people of the land
What work for this day
Learn steadfastly, harvest the healing herbs
Heal the wounds of the land

In honor of the Holy Sovereigns

Though their lives were filled with personal sorrow, the Hawaiian King and Queen strove always to do their best for their people.

This mele is based on He Lei Keia no ʻ Ema, one of the lei songs written for Emma Kalanikaumakaʻamano Kaleleonālani Naʻ ea Rooke. I wanted to retain much of the feel of the songwriting of her era, and for those who know the mele, bring it back so that they can see that imagery, as well as my own. Lines were selected from throughout the original mele to act as the haku of this lei, with new verses braided in.

The first verse takes its first line from the original, but is dedicated to both Emma and Alexander ʻ Iolani Liholiho. The verse references the attention that Hawaiʻ i was receiving on the world stage, and the difficulty of retaining sovereignty. The difficulties of the people were taken to heart by the royal couple.

The second verse references the diligence with which ʻ Ema and ʻ Iolani worked to create hospitals and health care for the people of Hawaiʻ i. When the missionary-influenced legislature refused to work to create health care, the Queen sold her personal jewelry, and called on her friends to do the same. The King worked with local business people to fundraise. Through their personal networks, they raised the funds to create what is now the Queen’s Health Care System.

The third verse honors the royal couple as strong proponents of education. At his funeral, some 800 students and teachers processed to the funeral to offer ʻ Iolani their aloha.

The second to the last verse is almost the same as the second to the last in He Lei Kēia no ʻ Ema. Here, I use it to reference the honoring of them in the liturgical calendar of the Anglican and Episcopal communions as the Holy Sovereigns. They are heard of in distant lands, wherever the Anglican and Episcopal calendars are observed.

As the last verse of the original mele called for people to rally to support and vote for ʻ Emalani, to continue her work, the last verse of this mele calls us to rally and carry on their work of education and healing.

Even after the death of their son, little Prince Albert Edward Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa a Kamehameha and then the November 30, 1863 death of her husband, ʻ Emalani remained dedicated to her people, taking a personal and active interest in healthcare and education.

Prince Albert Edward Kauikeaouli Leiopapa a Kamehameha in his fireman outfit.
by H.L. Chase
Hawaiʻ i State Archives image

In 1865, on the advice of her physician, ʻ Emalani voyaged from Hawaiʻ i to improve her health and in support of the Anglican church in Hawaiʻ i, which she and her husband had been instrumental in formally establishing in the islands.

She traveled first to England, visited London, and then spent the winter at Hyères in the French Rivera. From there she went to Northern Italy and Southern Germany, and then to Paris. She returned to London in June 1866, and then went sightseeing in Ireland before sailing for New York and then traveling on to San Francisco.

In this tour of Britain and Europe she met with Queen Victoria, Emperor Napoleon III, Empress Eugénie of France, Grand Duke Frederick II and Grand Duchess Louise of Baden, and other European royals, government dignitaries and Anglican clergy.

*Queen Emma: A Narrative of the Object of Her Mission to England*, a pamphlet describing her travel and mission in England, was published in London in December 1865 by Day and Son. American missionary Samuel C. Damon re-published it in his newspaper *The Friend* in June 1866, pointing out some errors in the work.

ʻ Emalani became an especial friend of Queen Victoria. The two women had much in common. Both were of island kingdoms. Both had lost sons. Both were widowed. They already had exchanged letters for some time and at last them met on September 9, 1865. In November, ʻ Emalani spent a night at Windsor Castle.

Queen Victoria recorded in her journal on the afternoon of September 9, 1865:

After luncheon I received Queen Emma, the widowed Queen of the Sandwich Islands or Hawaii. Met her in the Corridor & nothing could be nicer or more dignified than her manner. She is dark, but not more so than an Indian, with fine features & splendid soft eyes. She was dressed in just the same widow’s weeds as I wear. I took her into the White Drawing room, where I asked to sit down next to me on the sofa. She was moved when I spoke to her of her great misfortune in losing her only child. She was very discreet & would only remain a few minutes. She presented her lady, Mrs. Hoopile whose husband is her Chaplain, both being Hawaiians….
Kanahele 1999