From the recording Te Vaka's Great Hits - Song That Inspired Moana
Depicting the different roles of men and women in Tokelau. The song is calling the women on shore to the men returning from fishing.
Tokelau language
E KELI (The Digging)
Opetaia Foa'i/Traditional
E keli ko te vai
The digging for water
E tanu e te tai
Keeps getting buried by the sea
E keli ke hua
The digging for drinking water
E takele ai ko atua
For the gods to bath in
Verse 2 (written by Opetaia Foa’i)
E keli ke lahi koloa
The digging for plentiful goods
Kikila i te vaka o Tagaloa
Look at the canoe of Tagaloa (god of the sea)
E keli ki lakau
The digging with sticks
Te Vaka o te Tui Tokelau
The canoe of Tui Tokelau (King of Tokelau)
© Spirit of Play Productions/Traditional