ʻĀina aʻo Molokaʻi Ukulele Chords – Kai Davis. This song uses the chords: C, C7, F, G7. You can change the key for free, as needed.
ʻĀina aʻo Molokaʻi Ukulele Chords – Kai Davis
He Caloha au iā ʻG7oe
ʻĀina aʻo MoloCkaʻC7i
FHoʻokipa poʻe maliChini
G7Me ka puʻuwai hāCmama
He aCloha aʻo WaiG7lau
He wahi mehameha nō Ci–C7a
FHe nani nō ke ʻike Caku
G7Pumehana me ka ua Cnoe
HanoChano aʻo HākaʻaʻG7ano
Ke kani o ka ʻili CkaC7i
FHe puʻe one ʻole Cia
G7Me nā pali kiʻekiʻe Cloa
ʻĀCina ke aloha pau ʻG7ole
Aʻo KaiCnaC7lu
FKe ʻala o ka līCpoa
G7E moani Cnei
HaʻCina mai ka puG7ana
Nani ʻo KalauCpaC7pa
FHoʻokipa poʻe maliChini
G7Me ka puʻuwai hāCmama
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“ʻĀina aʻo Molokaʻi” History:
The song “ʻĀina aʻo Molokaʻi” (also written as “ʻĀina Molokaʻi” or “ʻAina O Molokaʻi”) is a beloved Hawaiian mele composed and recorded by Kai Davis, who was born and raised on the island of Molokaʻi. It is essentially a musical love letter to Molokaʻi — its landscapes, spirit, and people.
The song appeared on the album Kai Davis Sings Old Hawaiian Favorites, originally released in the 1960s.
Here is one of the central opening ideas of the song:
“Aloha au iā ʻoe / ʻĀina aʻo Molokaʻi”
“I love you, land of Molokaʻi.”
The lyrics describe several real places on Molokaʻi, especially remote and spiritually important areas on the island’s north shore:
- Wailau — a secluded valley described as lonely, misty, and beautiful.
- Hākaʻaʻano — a waterfall plunging directly into the ocean.
- Kainalu — known for the fragrant seaweed called līpoa.
- Kalaupapa — the historic peninsula associated with the Hansen’s disease settlement.
One of the strongest themes running through the mele is hoʻokipa — Hawaiian hospitality. The refrain speaks about welcoming visitors “with wide open hearts.” That gives the song a warm, gentle feeling rather than a dramatic or sorrowful one.
Musically, the song has the relaxed, graceful style associated with classic Hawaiian recordings of the mid-20th century:
- soft vocal phrasing,
- traditional island melody,
- gentle rhythm,
- and strong emphasis on place and atmosphere.
In Hawaiian music, songs about specific places are extremely important. They are not just travel postcards; they preserve memory, identity, genealogy, and emotional connection to the land. “ʻĀina aʻo Molokaʻi” fits squarely into that tradition. (Huapala)
Many later Hawaiian artists have also performed the song, including Hoku Zuttermeister and Kuana Torres Kahele, which shows how respected the composition became in Hawaiian music circles.
