The Princess Liliʻuokalani, who later became Queen of Hawaii, wrote the song after either receiving a kindhearted “goodbye” hug from someone she admired, or possibly by witnessing two people embrace each other while visiting them in 1878 on the island of O’ahu. On the way back home, traveling by horses, the princess and her team stopped in an orange grove to rest. She started to hum and make up a song, borrowing some notes from a song she liked. Then she added the words: “Goodbye to you. One last hug and then I must go.” She continued to add more, and more words. Soon the team she travelled with started to sing it too! She named the song “Aloha ‘Oe” (Farwell to You).

A special Hula performance by Mrs. Vallejos.