From the recording Haoloto
This song was a pleasure to write as Mau and the Polynesian Voyaging Society are legends in their own time. The awesome work they did in reviving traditional navigation brought great pride to our Pacific people - Opetaia
MAU PIAILUG
Lyrics & Musics - Opetaia Foa'i
Ko ia e hau mai te nuku o te La
Ako ia ae he matua te tama
Tokalahi tino fakahino ai ia
ke malamalama i te gagana
o te moana
Maua Poto kae kehe itu kaiga
Kikila kite Lalolagi
Ke iloa auala
Manatua na pehe
Hau mai Anamua
Fakaholo Tamana ki Tama
Ki koe ako tatou uma
E te leo mai anamua
mai tupuga mo tatou
e kua maua te malamalama
leo o tupuga
Momoli na aloha kia koe
te afi na kamata e koe
e he mafai toe galo
holo mai agaga
te mamalu o tupuga
toe manatua ai
tatou uma
E paku ko te la kua tofu ki lalo
fakatu na mata
ona fetu
fakatu
Galuega na fai nei
taua mo tatou nei
ke puipuiga
Te tagata tena
e malamalama
te tagata tena
te aloha tenei
te tagata tena
e iei te gagana
te tagata tena
tuku mai tenei
Master Navigator
He hails from the land of the Sun
Taught from an early age
Many hands guide him
To understand
The Language of the Sea
With knowledge he finds
Abilities of another kind
Every sign has a message
Tells of whats to come
He still chants to remember
That’s the way of long ago
How it passes on
From father to son
Now you pass it on
For everyone
Its the voice of long ago
From the ancestors to us
We now understand
The voice of the Ancestors
With love and respect
The fire that you lit
Will never go out
The spirit of the Ancestors
Have honoured us
They have come home to rest
We remember again
And when the sun falls below
Small eyes open
The stars take over
They stand up
This work that is done
So precious to all of us
We must protect it
This one understands
This one has given us a gift
This one has the language
This one has returned it to us
© Spirit of Play Productions/Opetaia Foa'i