"Mele Kalikimaka Camila"

A local kine Holiday song for your family.

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The backstory

Each year, E and I trade off where we spend the holidays between Minnesota and Hawaii. This year, we would have been island bound for the holidays - sigh.

By now, we’d be packing our bags, hopping on a plane and texting mom our flight number so that she could track us in the air like a FedEx package. So instead, in honor of the Aloha Friday before Christmas, I’m sending a little holiday mele (song) to my family back home and to all of you - “Mele Kalikimaka Camila.”

Yes, this is dedicated to our bundle-of-joy niece Camila, but what I love about this simple tune is that you can easily put in the name(s) of the little(s) in your life. For example, I could sing each line of the chorus with the names of other keiki (kids) in our family like Crosby, Griffin, Daniella, Amina, Andie, Olivia, Victoria - or even Boba (🐶).

So grab your ukulele or sing along with the video on Insta. And don’t forget to give the second chorus your best Santa impression!

 

The lyrics + chords

Mele Kalikimaka Camila

D / A / G / D
She’s got cheeks redder than Rudolph’s nose
A bundle of joy from head to toe
A smile that can light the darkest of nights
We love her and squeezer with all of our might
As we sing...

D / A / G / Bm
D / A / G / D
Mele kalikimaka Camila
Mele kalikimaka Camila
Mele kalikimaka Camila
Mele kalikimaka Camila

Palm trees sway down by the beach we play
And sing to the honu swimming our way
The sand is as white as a fresh coat of snow
Where Santa looks over fro North Pole
As he sings...

Mele kalikimaka Camila
Mele kalikimaka Camila
Mele kalikimaka Camila
Mele kalikimaka Camila

Bm / A / D / G
D / A / G / D
Near or far, wherever you are
This song is a message straight from the heart
We hope to be with next year safe and sound
With loved ones together all gather around
And we’ll sing…

Mele kalikimaka Camila
Mele kalikimaka Camila
Mele kalikimaka Camila
Mele kalikimaka Camila