Cockeyed Mayor of Kaunakakai Ukulele Chords – R. Alex Anderson. This song uses the chords: Bb, F7, C7, D7, Gmi, Bbmi. You can change the key for free, as needed.
Cockeyed Mayor of Kaunakakai Ukulele Chords – R. Alex Anderson
He Bbwore a malo F7and a Bbcoconut hatF7
BbOne was for this and the C7other F7for thBbat
All the people shouted F7as Bbhe went by
He F7was the cBbockeyed mayor of C7KaunaF7kakaBbi
He Bbwore a lei F7and he Bbwore a smile
He F7drank a Bbgallon of oke to make lC7ife F7worthwBbhile
Then he made ’em laugh ’til F7he Bbmade ’em cry
He F7was the cBbockeyed mayor of KC7aunaF7kakaBbi
The D7horse he rode was skinny
A broken down old feGminmale
So he pC7laced a green panini
Right under that horse’sF7t ail
He Bbminmade her buck Ab7and he Gb7made her flyF7
All Bbminover the islAb7and of F#7MoloF7kai
You could C7hear the kBbminanes and wahines C7cheer
As they gave him a lei of F7kikanias
F7Now you’ve heard myBb story
‘Bout the F7mayor of KaunakaBbkai
G7All his fame and C7glory
On the island of MoloF7kai
He Bbwore a lei F7and he Bbwore a smile
He F7drank a Bbgallon of oke to make lC7ife F7worthwBbhile
Then he made ’em laugh ’til F7he Bbmade ’em cry
He F7was the cBbockeyed mayor of KC7aunaF7kakaBbi
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“Cockeyed Mayor of Kaunakakai” History:
Who wrote it?
“The Cockeyed Mayor of Kaunakakai” was written in 1935 by R. Alex Anderson (Robert Alexander Anderson), one of Hawaiʻi’s most beloved songwriters. Anderson also wrote famous Hawaiian standards such as:
- Mele Kalikimaka
- Lovely Hula Hands
- White Ginger Blossoms
He was famous for writing songs that blended Hawaiian themes with American popular music, a style known as hapa haole (“half foreign”) music.
What is Kaunakakai?
Kaunakakai is the main town on the island of Molokaʻi. Even today it’s known as a quiet plantation-era town with Hawaiʻi’s longest pier.
The song became so famous that Kaunakakai eventually adopted the tradition of naming an honorary mayor, inspired by the song itself.
Who was the “cockeyed mayor”?
Interestingly, there never was an official mayor by that name.
The song was written for a celebration honoring the Hollywood actor Warner Baxter, who was visiting Molokaʻi. There are two stories about the title:
- One tradition says Baxter had a slight crossed eye, inspiring the nickname.
- R. Alex Anderson later said he simply liked how the word “cockeyed” sounded when paired with “Kaunakakai.”
Both stories have been repeated over the years. (squareone.org)
The humor
The song is meant as a lighthearted comedy.
It tells the story of an eccentric “mayor” who:
- wears a malo (traditional Hawaiian loincloth) and a coconut hat,
- eats fish and poi,
- drinks “‘oke” (an old slang term for liquor),
- rides a skinny horse,
- keeps everyone laughing wherever he goes.
It’s full of playful Hawaiian expressions and local humor rather than serious storytelling.
Hilo Hattie made it famous
Hilo Hattie (born Clara Inter) turned the song into one of the biggest Hawaiian novelty hits of the 1930s and 1940s.
She performed it on stage, radio, and in films, using exaggerated facial expressions and comic acting. For many people, Hilo Hattie’s performance is the definitive version. (Wikipedia)
In the movies
The song appeared in Hollywood’s wave of Hawaiian-themed musicals during the late 1930s and early 1940s, helping introduce Hawaiian music to audiences across the mainland United States. (squareone.org)
Hawaiian words in the song
Here are a few terms you hear:
- malo – traditional Hawaiian loincloth
- malihini – newcomer or visitor
- haole – originally “foreigner”; today often means a person of European ancestry
- poi – staple Hawaiian food made from taro
- kāne – man
- wahine – woman
- lei – floral garland
- pānini – prickly pear cactus
These words helped mainland audiences hear bits of the Hawaiian language while enjoying a humorous song.
Why it’s still remembered
Although it isn’t performed as often today as classics like “Blue Hawaii” or “Lovely Hula Hands,” it remains a beloved piece of Hawaiian musical history because it captures the playful spirit of old-time Hawaiʻi entertainment. Musicians who specialize in traditional Hawaiian and hapa haole music still perform it, and it’s considered one of R. Alex Anderson’s signature compositions. (squareone.org)
As someone who enjoys Hawaiian music, I think you’d appreciate how cleverly the melody matches the lyrics. It’s written almost like a musical comedy, with a bouncy, upbeat rhythm that invites audiences to laugh along with the story.
