E Ola Ke Alii Ke Akua
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E Ola Ke Aliʻi Ke Akua (God Save the King) one of Hawaii's four national anthems was composed 1860 by Prince William Charles Lunalilo who later became King Lunalilo. Prior to 1860, the Kingdom of Hawaii lacked its own national anthem. They had used the British royal anthem, God Save The King. A contest was sponsored in 1860, by Kamehameha IV who wanted a song with Hawaiian lyrics set to the tune of the British anthem. The winning entry was written by the 25-year-old Lunalilo, this was reputed to have been written in 20 minutes. He was awarded 10 dollars and his compostion became Hawaii's first national anthem.[1] It remain Hawaii's national anthem until 1866 when it was replaced by Liliuokalani's composition He Mele Lahui Hawaii.
[edit] E Ola Ke Aliʻi Ke Akua
| Ke Akua Mana Mau | Eternal, mighty God |
| Ho`omaikaʻi, pomaikaʻi | Bless us from your bright abode |
| I ka moʻi | Our sovereign king |
| Kou lima mana mau | May your all powerful arm |
| Malama kiaʻi mai | Ward from our sire all harm |
| Ko makou nei mo`i | Let no vile foe alarm |
| E ola e | Long may he reign |
| Ka inoa kamahaʻo | Royal distinguished name |
| Lei nani o makou | Our beauteous diadem |
| E ola e | Long life be yours |
| Kou ʻeheu uhi mai | Thy wing spread over our land |
| Pale na ʻino e | From every foe defend |
| Ka makou pule no | To you our prayers ascend |
| E ola e | Long live our king |
| I mua ou makou | Before Thee |
| Ke ʻliʻi o na Ali`i | King of Kings |
| E aloha mai | Of Whom all nature sings |
| E mau ke ea e | Our prayer we bring |
| ʻO ke aupuni nei | Oh let our kingdom live |
| E ola mau makou | Life, peace and union give |
| Me ka moʻi | Let all Thy care receive |
| Bless Thou our king |
