¿I hē a Hotu Matu'a e hura nei? is a hymn that has become like a national anthem for Rapa Nui. It's often sung after the Chilean national anthem in front of the Chilean and Rapa Nui flag. This song is about the arrival of the seven explorers and Hotu Matu'a to Rapa Nui and the death of king Hotu Matu'a.
Typed and translated by Marcus Edensky
| Lyrics | Translation | Description |
|---|---|---|
| ¡E 'Ira e Rapareŋa ē! | Oh 'Ira and Rapareŋa! | 'Ira and Rapareŋa are two of the seven explorers sent to scout Rapa Nui. |
| Ka kimi te ma'ara o te 'ariki | Go look for the king's home | Haumaka tells 'Ira, Rapareŋa, 'U'ura 'a Huatava, Riŋi-Riŋi 'a Huatava, Nonoma 'a Huatava, Ku'u-Ku'u 'a Huatava and Mako'i Riŋi-Riŋi 'a Huatava (which make out the so called seven explorers) to look for a new home for king Hotu Matu'a and their people. |
| "Ko ŋā kope tu-tu'u vai 'a Te Ta'aŋa | "Children rising from the water of Te Ta'aŋa, | In Haumakas sleep, when his spirit sees the islets Motu Nui, Motu 'Iti and Motu Kao-Kao, he remembers the three children of his son Te Ta'aŋa. He gives the islets the name "Children rising from the water, of Te Ta'aŋa, of Haumaka from Hiva". This part of the song means that the seven explorers have reached the three islets and Rapa Nui. |
| a Haumaka o Hiva" | of Haumaka from Hiva" | |
| ¿I hē a Hotu Matu'a e hura nei? | Where is Hotu Matu'a living? | Hotu Matu'a and his people has settled down in their new land; the land found by Haumaka. Te Pito o te Henua is another name for Rapa Nui and means The Navel of the World. |
| I Te Pito o te Henua e hura nei | He lives in The Navel of the World | |
| I Te Pito o te Henua e hura nei | ||
| a Haumaka o Hiva | of Haumaka from Hiva | |
| ¡E Kuihi e Kuaha vārua ē! | Oh, spirits Kuihi and Kuaha! | When king Hotu Matu'a is about to die he shouts his last words to the homeland Hiva. He asks the spirits Kuihi and Kuaha to sing to him through the voice of a rooster. |
| Ka haka o'oa 'iti-'iti mai koe | Sing some to me | |
| i te re'o o te moa o Ariana | through the voice of Ariana's rooster | |
| O'oa take heu-heu | Sing take heu-heu |
According to the legend, the king dies just after Ariana's rooster responds take heu-heu. The meaning of these words has today been forgotten. Probably for this reason, people today often end this song with O'oa e te 'ariki ēinstead. The translation of this new ending would be Sing Oh, king!, meaning that the rooster sings Oh, king!because the king has passed away. |
