Chinese New Year song in Lahaina, 1866.

[Found under: "Ka Happy New Year o na Pake"]

Iolidane:—Tahiti Tune.

1 La hauoli a pomaikai,
No ka lahui o Kina,
Ti ka char sow san nin fat choi
No ka makahiki hou,
Hape Nuia. Hape Nuia &co
E na makamaka nei.

2 Ke hui mai nei na kalepa
O ko Kina poe gentlemen,
Me ka lakou mau ladies no
A hauoli hoomaikai,
Ti ka kon hi. Ti ka kon hi, &co
And san nin Tat-i.

3 Na makua o keia hui
Me na keiki a lakou,
A pomaikai na mea a pau
Keia makahiki hou,
Choi tan qui sow. Choi tan qui sow
Hooili ia lakou.

4 Na ke Akua ma ka lani
Nana e hoomaikai mai
O keia hui ko Kina poe
E noho ma Hawaii nei,
Haleluia. Haleluia
No ka Haku ola mau.

5 Na Keonimana me na Lady
E aloha kakou a pau,
No ko kakou olioli,
Ka la nu Lahui o Kina,
Huro kakou! Huro kakou!!
A hauoli pu.

[Jordan [?]:—Tahiti Tune.

1 Joyous and blessed day,
For the Chinese people,
Ti ka char sow san nin fat choi
For the new year,
Happy New Year. Happy New Year &co
O Friends here.

2 The merchants have gathered
Of China’s gentlemen,
Along with their ladies
And blessed happiness
Ti ka kon hi. Ti ka kon hi, &co
And sun nin Tat-i.

3 The elders of this group
Along with their children,
Blessed is everyone
This new year,
Choi tan qui sow. Choi tan qui sow.
Onto them.

4 It is God in heaven
Who will bless them
This group of China’s people
Living in Hawaii nei,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
For the eternal Lord.

5 The Gentlemen and Ladies
Aloha amongst all of us,
For our joy,
The holiday of the Chinese people,
Hurrah to us! Hurrah to us!!
And happiness too.]

This song was composed by one of these Chinese; S. P. Ahiong is his name, and he is the director in the playing of the Seraphim [Selapina], and he holds Seraphim concerts in the Wainee Church in Lahaina until today, and it may be something novel to see for those who are into new things; seeing this skilled Chinese singer, he probably has no match amongst all the Chinese who have come to Hawaii nei. After this song, Rev. D. Baldwin gave a prayer and the banquet started with much calm; all of the respected haole of that Calm land which aloha has put forth, along with our Governor [Paulo Nahaolelua] who came by….

[This is just a portion of a much larger article describing the new year celebration in Lahaina. There are more mele!]

(Kuokoa, 3/3/1866, p. 4)

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke V, Helu 9, Aoao 4. Maraki 3, 1866.