Sanoe, is a famous song composed by Queen Liliuokalani who wrote the words and the music. "Sanoe" is the Hawaiian word meaning - the mist that drifts over our mountains - and alludes to the man drifting in like the mist to see his ipo (sweetheart). It is in the Queen's Song Book and also in He Mele Aloha. Lili'uokalani composed this while still a princess in the court of her brother King David Kalakaua. The song describes a possibly clandestine love affair or romance in the royal court. This version is based on Robert Cazimero's choral arrangement for the Kamehameha Schools Song Contest. Steve composed the interlude between the second and third verses for this recording. Queen Lili'uokalani originally wrote Sanoe in common time, though today it is almost always performed in triple meter. Where and how this change occurred is a mystery Steve is interested in solving.
This affair in the royal court is centered on Sanoe, the woman, who was probably Kapeka; the gentleman, is unknown. Kapeka was the joint composer to this song. Queen Lili‘uokalani indicates she composed Sanoe with "Kapeka", her friend whose real name was Elizabeth Sumner Achuck.
Sanoe was brought back into general circulation by 'ukulele master Eddie Kamae and Gabby with the Sons of Hawaii on "MUSIC OF OLD HAWAII".
Read more about this topic: Compositions By Liliuokalani