Aia Hiki Mai Ukulele Chords – Emma Kapena. This song uses the chords: C, F, G7. You can change the key for free, as needed.
Aia Hiki Mai Ukulele Chords – Emma Kapena
CMaʻemaʻe Līhau pō i kaG7 lehua
Kupu kelakela i ke alo o CMalama
Me he lama ala ke aloFha o ka ipo
G7Ke hiki mai hiCki mai
CHiki mai ana ka mahele aG7lo anu
Aʻi lawe ʻia mai e ke ʻala lauaʻCe
Ua hele a puīa i ke Fonaona
G7I ka noua e Cke kēhau
CHia’ai hewa ana au iā iaG7la
La’ahia new kino I ko Cleo
I lei, I home no’u ko Faloha
G7Kulehana Cai kāua
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“Aia Hiki Mai” History:
“Aia Hiki Mai” is a beautiful traditional-style Hawaiian love song (mele) associated with the composer Emma Kapena. It is admired for its poetic imagery, emotional depth, and classic Hawaiian language expression.
The title “Aia Hiki Mai” roughly means:
“When it comes” or “When memories come.”
The song is filled with nature imagery — lehua blossoms, mist, lightning, fragrant ferns, dew — all used to describe the feeling of love and remembrance. In Hawaiian poetry, nature and emotion are often inseparable.
One of the central ideas in the song is that memories of a loved one arrive suddenly and powerfully, almost like lightning appearing before clouds. The lyrics compare love to:
- a torch or shining light,
- blossoming flowers,
- cool fragrant winds,
- and the scent of lauaʻe fern.
Here’s a short portion of the translated meaning:
“When fond recollections come to me
Like lightning before the clouds…”
The song also mentions places on Maui, including Līhau and Malama, giving it a strong sense of Hawaiian landscape and identity.
An especially interesting historical note:
Some old collections credited the song to Princess Likelike, a famous Hawaiian royal composer, but respected Hawaiian scholar Mary Kawena Pukui identified Emma Kapena as the composer.
The melody and lyrics are considered very “mele-style” Hawaiian:
- gentle,
- layered with metaphor,
- emotionally restrained but deeply heartfelt.
It’s the kind of song that carries longing, beauty, memory, and aloha all at once.
