It has been adopted as the school song by the University of Hawaii at
Hilo. Along with another popular song, "
Aloha ʻOe", every person from child to senior citizen know is said to the words and music to these songs. Originally the song was called "Ke Ala Tuberose" and was composed by Joseph Kapeau Aeʻa, who was a member of the
Royal Hawaiian Band and also a friend of
Princess Liliuokalani. The princess requested Aeʻa and the band come to Hilo and that is where he composed the song. In August 1881, the title was changed from "Ke Ala Tuberose" to "Hilo March" and played by the Royal Hawaiian band under Captain
Henri Berger's direction. Besides being a favorite of the Royal Hawaiian band and its popularity in the Islands, it has been picked up as a favorite by many steel guitarists on the mainland. The lyrics of the song tell of Hilo's beauty as well as the beauty of the
Lehua flower. ==Covers==