Opae E - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

`Ôpae ê, `Ôpae ho`i

Shrimp, Shrimp return

Ua hele mai au, ua hele mai au

I am coming hither, I am coming hither

Na Kuahine*

For Sister.

Hui: / Aia wai, aia puhi

There’s water, there’s eel

Nui `o Puhi a li`i li`i au

Big (is) Eel and little (is) me.

A`ole loa.

Absolutely not.

Pûpû ê, Pûpû ho`i

Shellfish, Shellfish return

Ua hele mai au, ua hele mai au

I am coming hither, I am coming hither

Na Kuahine

For Sister.

(E hana hou i ka hui)

(Repeat)

Kûpe`e ê, Kûpe`e ho’i

Sea snail, Sea snail return

Ua hele mai au, ua hele mai au

I am coming hither, I am coming hither

Na Kuahine

For Sister.

'Opihi ê, 'Opihi ho’i

Limpet, Limpet return

Ua hele mai au, ua hele mai au

I am coming hither, I am coming hither

Na Kuahine

For Sister.

Mai maka’u, na’u e pani

(I'm) Not afraid, for me to block/cover

I ka maka a `ike `ole

the eyes (of the puhi so he) cannot see

Kêlâ puhi

That eel.

can vary from a k-sound to a t-sound.