www.geocities.com/darhonolulu/welcome

Welcome to the website for the Aloha Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. We hope you'll spend some time getting to know us, and at the same time, enjoy learning more about the Islands. One way to capture the magic Hawaii is through the beauty of its language, flowers and songs. This page contains information about each of the flowers featured on our website. We've also provided a few words of greeting shared by the islanders and some information about the song "Aloha Oe." Enjoy your visit!

ALOHA
Aloha in Hawaiian means "hello, goodbye, or I love you"
* A stands for AKAHAI, meaning kindness. *
* L stands for LOKAHI, meaning bring unity. *
* O stands for OLU`OLU, meaning politeness. *
* H stands for HA`AHA`A, meaning humbled. *
* A stands for AHONUI, meaning enduring. *

The yellow hibiscus
Of Asian origin, the yellow hibiscus is the state flower of Hawaii. There are considerable species of the flower, which may be red, white, orange, yellow, or a combination of colors. The blooms are delicate and, once picked, generally last for just a day.

Anthurium
Meaning "tail flower" in Greek, the anthurium is a small herbaceous plant from tropical America. Sometimes referred to as the "heart of Hawaii" due to its shape, the original anthurium was believed to be brought to the islands from Columbia by an English missionary in 1889. The flowers are long-lasting and are very popular for floral arrangements. Colors vary from the popular red, to white, green and variegated. The plants thrive in Hawaii's tropical climate.

Plumeria
The plumeria is often the first flower a visitor sees upon arrival in the islands due to its popularity for use in lei. Native to America, the tropical flower thrives in Hawaii's climate. The blossoms grow in clusters on trees and are long-lasting and fragrant. The flower is named after the seventeenth century French botanist Charles Plumier.

Orchid
The Chatteya orchid is originally from Brazil and is probably the favorite group of the countless orchid species. Orchids are displayed as cut flowers, potted plants, and accents for landscaping. Also popular in Hawaii are dendrobium and vandia orchids. The dendrobium orchids, known as the tough hybrids, are very common in the cut flower trade.

Bird of Paradise
So popular is this plant in Hawaii, that many people consider it native to the islands. In fact, it is from South Africa. Widely used in flower arrangements, the blooms last up to two weeks when cut and longer when left on the plant.

Taro Plant
Taro isn't indigenous to Hawaii. It has long been identified with the South Pacific islands, but nowhere has it attained so much importance as in the Hawaiian group.
Poi is made from boiled taro that is pounded, then fermented to form a sticky, edible paste. Historians believe taro was brought to Hawaii about 450 A.D.

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Hawaiian Pronunciation
There are only 12 letters in the Hawaiian alphabet, the vowels a, e. i, o, u, and the consonants h, k, l, m, n, p, and w. Generally vowels are pronounced as follows: a, as in father; e, as in obey or fete'; i, as in pique; o, as in vote; u, as in rule. All words and syllables end in vowels, giving the language a particularly melodious and distinctive sound. Here's some popular greetings:

   "Aloha 'Oe" was composed by Queen Lili'uokalani, the last reigning queen of the Hawaiian Islands.
    It is said that Queen Lili`uokalani composed the song in 1877 after witnessing the fond parting embrace of two lovers, one of whom was probably her sister, Likelike, who later married A. S. Cleghorn.
    Lili'uokalani intended "Aloha 'Oe" as a love song, but it has became a song of farewell in Hawaii.
    There is a manuscript of "Aloha 'Oe" in Queen Lili'uokalani's handwriting in the Bishop Museum, Honolulu

First Verse
Ha`aheo ka ua i n� pali
Proudly by the rain in the cliff

Ke nihi a`e la i kanahele
The creeping silently and softly up the forest

E uhai ana paha i ka liko
Seeking perhaps the bud

Pua `�hihi lehua a o uka,
Flower �hihi lehua of inland.

Chorus (Hui)
Aloha `oe, aloha `oe
Farewell (to) Thee, farewell (to) Thee

E ke onaona noho i ka lipo
Sweet fragrance dwelling in the dark forest

"One fond embrace", a ho`i a`e au
One fond embrace, before I now leave

"Until we meet again."

The music on this page is "Ke Kali Nei Au" ("Waiting for Thee") by Charles King
Commonly referred to the Hawaiian Wedding Song, it was written by King in 1926.