Ka Mo`olelo `Ukulele / The `Ukulele Story

Ka mo`opuna:

Hûi!

Grandchild:

Halloo!

Ke kupuna:

Mai! Mai mai mai mai !

Grandmother:

Come! Come, come, come, come!

M:

E Tûtû. Hiki nô ke ho`oluhi iâ `oe?

GC:

Gramma. May (I) bother you?

K:

Pehea?

GM:

What (is it)?

M:

`Ike nô `oe i ka mo`olelo o ka `ukulele?

GC:

Do you know the story about the `ukulele?

K:

`Ike loa.

GM:

(I) know (it) well.

M:

He mea Hawai`i maoli?

GC:

(Is it) a real Hawaiian thing?

K:

`A`ole. Lawe mai ka po`e Pukikî i kêia mea.

GM:

No. The Portuguese people brought this thing.

M:

`Oia?

GC:

Is that so?

K:

Nô kona li`ili`i, a no kona`eleu.

GM:

His nickname (inoa kapakapa)

M:

`O wai mô`î ia manawa?

GC:

Who was the king at that time?

K:

Ho`okani `oia i ke alo o Kalâkaua.

GM:

He played at Kalâkaua’s court.

M:

Huhû anei `o Kalâkaua?

GC:

Was Kalâkaua angry?

K:

Mahope mai hâ`awi ka po`e i ka inoa `ukulele i kêia mea ho`okani.

GM:

Afterwards the people gave the nickname `Ukulele to this musical instrument (playing thing).

M:

I kêia manawa, `ike nô au i ka mo`olelo o ka `ukulele.

GC:

Now (at this time), I know the story about the `ukulele.