To you, sweetheart, Aloha
Aloha from the bottom of my heart
Keep that smile on your lips
Brush the tear from your eye
One more Aloha, then it's time for goodbye

To you sweetheart, Aloha
In dreams, I'll be with you dear tonight
And I'll pray for that day when
We two will meet again
Until then, sweetheart, Aloha

Source: Sweet Leilani by Harry Owens, Hula House, Pacific Palisades, CA - In 1955, Mr. Owens made his first trip to the South Pacific. Stopping at Suva, Fiji, he addressed a large group from Australia and played some of his compositions. His rendition of "Sweet Leilani" was greeted with indifference.

Expecting no response to the next song, he was overwhelmed when someone insisted it be played as a march. With loud stomping of feet and rhythmic hand clapping, the entire group marched around the room in military formation."To You, Sweetheart, Aloha" was a standard classic marching song for the troops from Down Under and almost as popular as "Waltzing Matilda".

"At the time Harry Owens composed this tune he was the Musical Director of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, performing with his Royal Hawaiian Hotel Orchestra. 

Originally from O’Neil Nebraska, Harry Owens lived from April 18, 1902 to December 12 1986. Most often remembered as the composer of “ Sweet Leilani” which was “Song of the Year” at the 1938 Academy Awards, Harry arranged scores of traditional Hawaiian songs in addition to writing dozens of hapa-haole favorites. 

This song of Aloha was first introduced by Harry’s vocalist at the time, Ray Kinney. It soon became the most popular “last dance” number of the period. It recalls a special time in Hawaii’s musical past."

Sound clips:

• mele.com: Joe Recca and Alfred Apaka
• mele.com: Romantic Songs of Hawai`i
• Amazon.com: Andy Williams

Lyrics with chords: Aloha Calls website

Click here for other ways to say sweetheart in Hawaiian.