In the summer of 2012, while I was in the Institute of Hawaiian Music on Maui, my cohort took a Hawaiian music through hula class. We were pretty hopeless dancers for the most part, but we had fun and learned a great song called Haleakalā Hula that I still play at performances.
This tune is written in a very traditional style with easy chords. Since the progression repeats for every verse, it’s standard to add a Hawaiian vamp in between. Just strum D7, G7, C.
Translation available on Huapala.
C F C
Kuahiwi nani ʻoe Haleakalā
G7 C
Kaulana hoʻi ʻoe kū kilakila
C F C
ʻO Makawao ia ua kaulana
G7 C
I kāohi ia iho o ka lāʻau
C F C
He ʻūkiu e ka ua o ka ʻāina
G7 C
Me ka makani aheahe ʻoluʻolu
C F C
E aho no ʻoe a e komo mai
G7 C
A e hoʻolaʻi ka malu o ke ao
C F C
Puana ka inoa i lohe ʻia
G7 C
Kuahiwi nani ʻoe Haleakalā