"Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī" is the

regional anthem An anthem is a musical composition of celebration, usually used as a symbol for a distinct group, particularly the national anthems of countries. Originally, and in music theory and religious contexts, it also refers more particularly to shor ...

of the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sove ...

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...

. It previously served as the

national anthem A national anthem is a patriotic musical composition symbolizing and evoking eulogies of the history and traditions of a country or nation. The majority of national anthems are marches or hymns in style. American, Central Asian, and European n ...

of the independent

Hawaiian Kingdom The Hawaiian Kingdom, or Kingdom of Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language, Hawaiian: ''Ko Hawaiʻi Pae ʻĀina''), was a sovereign state located in the Hawaiian Islands. The country was formed in 1795, when the warrior chief Kamehameha the Great, of the ...

during the late 19th century, and has continued to be Hawaii's official anthem ever since annexation by the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

in 1898.

History

The words were written in 1874 by King David Kalākaua with music composed by Captain Henri Berger, then the king's royal bandmaster. "Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī" is one of the national anthems of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi and also was the National Anthem of the

Republic of Hawaiʻi The Republic of Hawaii ( Hawaiian: ''Lepupalika o Hawaii'') was a short-lived one-party state in Hawaii between July 4, 1894, when the Provisional Government of Hawaii had ended, and August 12, 1898, when it became annexed by the United States ...

. It was adopted as the national anthem in 1876, replacing Liliuokalani's composition " He Mele Lāhui Hawaiʻi". It was the adopted song of the

Territory of Hawaiʻi The Territory of Hawaii or Hawaii Territory (Hawaiian language, Hawaiian: ''Panalāʻau o Hawaiʻi'') was an organized incorporated territories of the United States, organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from Ap ...

before becoming the state symbol by an act of the Hawaiʻi State Legislature in 1967. The melody is reminiscent of "

God Save the King "God Save the King" is the national anthem, national and/or royal anthem of the United Kingdom, most of the Commonwealth realms, their territories, and the British Crown Dependencies. The author of the tune is unknown and it may originate in ...

" and the Prussian anthem "

Heil dir im Siegerkranz "" (; German for "Hail to Thee in the Victor's Crown", literally: "Hail to Thee in the Victor's Wreath") was the official national anthem of the German Empire from 1871 to 1918 and royal anthem of Prussia from 1795 to 1918. Before the foundatio ...

".''The melody was based on the Prussian hymn originally titled "Heil Dir Im Siegerkranz".'' "Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī" is commonly sung at sporting events in Hawaii, immediately after the U.S.

. In the

Hawaiian language Hawaiian (', ) is a Polynesian language of the Austronesian language family that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language o ...

, "Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī" means "Hawaiʻi's Own".

Lyrics

Notes

References

Resources

Huapala ~ Hawaiian Music and Hula Archives
~ recording of melody available at website Symbols of Hawaii Oceanian anthems Historical national anthems Hawaii culture United States state songs Hawaiian songs Songs about Hawaii 1874 in Hawaii Anthems of non-sovereign states 1874 songs {{Hawaii-stub