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Glad Tidings from Hawaii
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Barbara Bowyer writes: Many of you have probably never heard
of my favorite Christmas song, Nū ʻoli,
which translates from the Hawaiian language to Glad Tidings. I first
heard it when I was living in Hawaii and it has been a Christmas standard for
me ever since. The artists are the Brothers Cazimero, beloved and well known
through the islands. Their harmonies are beautiful and whenever I play it, I
can’t help but feel a smile in my heart. The chorus is especially uplifting,
even if you don’t understand the Hawaiian language.
I’ve included a link in
case you want to hear it for yourself. The original Hawaiian lyrics and the
English translation are provided below.
Nū ʻoli! Nū ʻoli!
He nū kamahaʻo!
He nū no ke ola mai luna mai nō
No kānaka nui, no kamaliʻi nei
A ʻoi ka nani i ke gula aʻiaʻi
Hui:
Nū ʻoli! Nū ʻoli!
Nū kamahaʻo, kamahaʻo, kamahaʻo ē!
Nū ʻoli! nū ʻoli!
He nū no ke ola e hau'oli ē!
Nū ʻoli! Nū ʻoli!
Ua pili ia nū
I ka poʻe ʻilihune, ka poʻe luʻuluʻu
Neʻe mai a paulele hahai iā Iesū
A pau nō ka hune a maha ʻoukou
Nū ʻoli! Nū ʻoli!
Hauʻoli ʻoukou
Ka poʻe akahai a haʻahaʻa ka naʻau
Na Iesū e kala a hoʻohānau hou
A kaʻi mai nei aʻe i ka nani ma ʻō
Glad tidings! Glad tidings!
What wonderful news! Such news of salvation from above For great men and for little children, too
More glorious than brilliant and shining gold
Chorus: Glad tidings! Glad tidings! News so wonderful, astonishing, remarkable too Glad tidings! Glad tidings! Such news of salvation, 'tis happiness and joy!
Glad tidings! Glad tidings!
Clinging to the news Are the poor and the sorrowful in burdensome
straits Push ahead in faith and follow Jesus All you who are poor and burdened too
Glad tidings! Glad tidings!
Happy are you Those who are meek and humble too 'Tis Jesus who frees us and gives us new life And on to the glory by Him we are led
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