On Dec. 1, 1996, in the middle of the night and a Minnesota bizzard, my brother-in-law Thomas was driving my sister, famous romance novelist June Donaghy Kramin, to the hospital to deliver their daughter. The baby decided she couldn’t wait, and made her debut on the back seat of their car. As Thomas stood up, holding her, a snowflake landed on her forehead. To commemorate her unusual birth, I gave her the name Ku‘uleihaukeaokapiliaumoe (‘my precious white snow lei of the early morning hours’). Kenneth Makaukāne composed the melody, and I was honored that O’Brian Eselu asked to record it, with Ku‘ulei’s permission, of course. It appeared on his 2009 release, “Aloha ē, Aloha ē, Aloha ē”.
| Kuʻuleihaukeaokapiliaumoe | My precious white snow lei of the early morning | |
| Ilihia wale au i ka ʻikena | I am awestruck at the sight | |
| Ma ka hikina i haku ʻia ai | In the east was created | |
| He lei ohaoha na nā mākua | A lei of delight of the parents | |
| He maka hō‘eu‘eu ʻālohilohi | A bright eyed rascal | |
| Hiaʻai wale aku ka manaʻo | That delights the senses | |
| He oho hākea e kuʻuwelu nei | With the light colored hair that dangles | |
| He lei kaumaka no nā kūpuna | A lei of affection for the grandparents | |
| Hāʻina ʻia mai ka puana lā ʻeā | Let the story be told | |
| Hiaʻai wale aku ka manaʻo | That delights the sense | |
| No ka maka hō‘eu‘au ʻālohilohi | For the bright eyed rascal | |
| Kuʻuleihaukeaokapiliaumoe | My precious white snow lei of the early morning |
I’ll never forget hearing it when I was home last. Made it that much more real hearing it on the radio!!! What an awesome gift for her. She still loves telling people her middle name! I’ll have her share this w/ friends!
Thanks!
Love you!