Endangered Poem

by Andrew Johnson

“Nature’s Embrace” (Hawaiian Language)

E ka nahele malu ‘ā’ī, (O’ gentle forest embrace,)

Kuahiwi kaulana mai kahiko. (Ancient mountains draped in green.)

Nā pua’a onaoni lei kapu, (Jeweled flowers adorning sacred bowers,)

‘Ike ‘ia i nā ‘īlio hone malu. (Witnessed by calm, meandering streams.)

E ka makani Kāhili mai’ele’ele, (The twilight Kāhili breezes caressing,)

Nā lālā ‘ōlena me ka ‘ilinalā. (Swaying fronds of ‘ōlena and ‘ilinalā.)

Loko’ino na ‘amakihi leo ke, (The merry ‘amakihi chorus rejoices,)

Aloha i nā hō’ailona makahiki hou.  (Celebrating nature’s rebirth anew.)

Ua hana ‘ia kākou i ka lepo ‘āina, (We are crafted from this earth’s soil,)

A i ho’okō hou ‘ia i ka hā’ilio honua. (Imbued again with nature’s vital breath.)

E mālama ‘oe i ka’u honua malu, (Cherish, o’ cherish this verdant realm,)

Ka pulehulehu kahikikū ho’ohiwahiwa. (The timeless, priceless, natural jewel.)