The words were written in 1874 by
King David Kalākaua with music composed by
Captain Henri Berger, then the king's royal bandmaster. "Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī" is one of the national anthems of the
Kingdom of Hawaiʻi and also was the national anthem of the
Republic of Hawaiʻi. It was adopted as the national anthem in 1876, replacing
Liliʻuokalani's composition "
He Mele Lāhui Hawaiʻi". It was the adopted song of the
Territory of Hawaiʻi before becoming the state symbol by an act of the
Hawaiʻi State Legislature in 1967. The melody is reminiscent of "
God Save the King" and the Prussian anthem "
Heil dir im Siegerkranz". "Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī" is commonly sung at sporting events in Hawaii, immediately after the U.S.
national anthem. It is sung at many local schools and local service organization meetings and events. == Lyrics ==