Prayer for the Trees

Pule ‘Aina
adapted from Hawaiian Antiquities by David Malo
E ke akua, he pule ia e holoi ana i ka po’ino o ka ‘aina
a me ke pale a’e i pau ko ka ‘aina haumia
He pule ia e ho’opau ana i na hewa o ka ‘aina apau

Oh God.
This is a prayer to wash away all iniquity from the land,
to ward off and end the contamination of the land.
This is a prayer to end the mistakes done to all the land

I pau ke a’e, me ke kawau
I pau ke kulopia, a me ka peluluka
I pau a hulialana
A laila niho peku, ho ‘emu, huikala, malapakai,
Kamauli hou i ke akua.

So that the bitterness may be over.
The ground will be covered with greenery, leaves and vines,
and we may offer again our prayers of thanks to you for abundance.

The trees that grow
The trees that grew
Just across the driveway
The trees that grow
The trees that grew
Just across the driveway

In the night Na Pueo
Screamed at us
In the night Two Owls
Screamed at us
Blood-curdling voices
In the night Na Pueo

The trees that grow
The trees that grew
Just across the driveway
The trees where Na Pueo lived
The trees where Na Pueo will no longer live

The trees are being cut
Today
Today the men with a permit to cut
Today the men with a degree and saw
Cut the trees because he says they have root rot

They didn't ask
They didn't ask the trees
They didn't ask the women
They didn't ask to have the sacred space created ... before

Today
A prayer for the land, and the trees is made so the land can know they are not dying without respect.

Pule 'Aina
Pule 'Aina
Pule 'Aina

Tonight
A prayer for the land, the trees
Pikai the 'aina
Pikai the 'aina
Pikai the 'aina