"Hawaii Aloha," also called "Kuu One Hanau," is a revered anthem of the native Hawaiian people and Hawaii

Hawaii

Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...

 residents alike. Written by Lorenzo Lyons

Lorenzo Lyons

Lorenzo Lyons or "Makua Laiana" was born in Colrain, Franklin County, Massachusetts, April 18, 1807. He graduated from Union College in 1827. Ordained as a Congregationalist minister at Auburn Theological Seminary, September 20, 1831, he embarked from Boston, Massachusetts on November 26, 1831, on...

, a Christian

Christian

A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...

 minister who died in 1886, "Hawai‘i Aloha" was considered by the Hawaii State Legislature in 1967 and by the Hawaii State Constitutional Convention

1978 Hawaii State Constitutional Convention

The 1978 Hawaii State Constitutional Convention is regarded to be the watershed political event in the modern State of Hawaii. The convention established term limits for state office holders, provided a requirement for an annual balanced budget, laid the groundwork for the return of federal land...

 in 1978 to become the official state song, but "Hawaii Pono‘ī," written by King David Kalākaua and composed by Royal Hawaiian Band Master

Royal Hawaiian Band

The Royal Hawaiian Band is the oldest and only full-time municipal band in the United States. At present a body of the City & County of Honolulu, the Royal Hawaiian Band has been entertaining Honolulu residents and visitors since its inception in 1836 by Kamehameha III...

 Henri Berger

Henri Berger

Henry or Henri Berger was a Prussian Kapellmeister composer and royal bandmaster of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1872 to his death....

, was chosen instead.

"Hawaii Aloha" is typically sung in both small and large, formal and informal gatherings, both in Hawaii and abroad, while participants stand in a circle with joined hands. It is a feature of the inauguration of the Governor of Hawaii

Governor of Hawaii

The Governor of Hawaii is the chief executive of the state of Hawaii and its various agencies and departments, as provided in the Hawaii State Constitution Article V, Sections 1 through 6. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by popular suffrage of residents of the state...

 (called Ke Kiaaina), and the opening sessions of the Hawai‘i State House of Representatives and Hawaii State Senate. Traditionally, the last chorus is sung with hands raised above heads; the act of raising hands is especially important to advocates of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement

Hawaiian sovereignty movement

The Hawaiian sovereignty movement is a political movement seeking some form of sovereignty for Hawai'i. Generally, the movement's focus is on self-determination and self-governance, either for Hawaiʻi as an independent nation, or for people of whole or part native Hawaiian ancestry, or for...

.

E Hawaii e kuu one hānau e Kuu home kulaīwi nei Oli nō au i nā pono lani ou E Hawaii, aloha ē	O Hawaii, O sands of my birth My native home I rejoice in the blessings of heaven O Hawaii, aloha.
Hui: E hauoli e nā ōpio o Hawaii nei Oli ē! Oli ē! Mai nā aheahe makani e pā mai nei Mau ke aloha, no Hawaii	Chorus: Happy youth of Hawaii Rejoice! Rejoice! Gentle breezes blow Love always for Hawaii.
E hai mai kou mau kini lani e Kou mau kupa aloha, e Hawaii Nā mea ōlino kamahao no luna mai E Hawaii aloha ē    (hui)	May your divine throngs speak Your loving people, O Hawaii The holy light from above O Hawaii, aloha.    (chorus)
Nā ke Akua e mālama mai iā oe Kou mau kualona aloha nei Kou mau kahawai ōlinolino mau Kou mau māla pua nani ē    (hui)	God protects you Your beloved ridges Your ever glistening streams Your beautiful flower gardens.    (chorus)

Listen to an excerpt: (The Rose Ensemble) http://www.roseensemble.org/recordings/hawaii.html