The Feeling Inside "Every Day Is a Gift"
This is the most communal track on Radiance. The chorus invites everyone to join — no rehearsal needed. The bridge, where Lehua slows everything down to just voice and bass, is where the song actually lives.
AlbumRadiance
Track2
Vocal PerformerLehua
Moodgrateful, uplifting
Emotional Temperaturebright
Narrative Rolecelebration of ordinary
Images the Song Carries
- ordinary love
- gift in front
- meaningful threads
- daily community
Lyrics and Hawaiian Gloss
Verse 1
The morning sun through lauhala blinds,
A fresh-brewed kope (coffee) on my mind.
The neighbor's keiki (child) laughing in the stream,
These simple things are not what they seem.
It's not the grand and planned affair,
It's just the mālie (calm) in the air.
A hāliʻa (cherished memory) being made right now,
I see the ʻike (understanding) on your brow.
Chorus - Full, Communal Harmony
O kēlā me kēia lā, he makana! (Every single day, is a gift!)
From the lā (sun) that rises to the hōkū (star) above!
Filled with ordinary pono (goodness),
And unordinary love!
So breathe it in, let gratitude lift—
O kēlā me kēia lā, he makana!
Verse 2
The shared ʻono (delicious) from a common bowl,
A story that helps mend a soul.
The helping hand before you ask,
A smile behind a weathered mask.
The fruit that falls from a stranger's tree,
The aloha you were meant to be.
These are the threads, both strong and fine,
That weave this ʻohana (family) of yours and mine.
Chorus - Stronger, More Assured Harmony
O kēlā me kēia lā, he makana! (Every single day, is a gift!)
From the lā that rises to the hōkū above!
Filled with ordinary pono,
And unordinary love!
So breathe it in, let gratitude lift—
O kēlā me kēia lā, he makana!
Bridge - Softer, Reflective
So when the rain falls on Haleakalā,
Or you feel a little far…
Remember the pule (prayer) in the trade wind's sigh,
And the mālamalama (light) in a friend's eye.
For the gift is not in getting through,
But in seeing the gift in front of you.
Final Chorus - Big, Uplifting, Anthemic
O KĒLĀ ME KĒIA LĀ, HE MAKANA! (EVERY SINGLE DAY, IS A GIFT!)
FROM THE LĀ THAT RISES TO THE HŌKŪ ABOVE!
FILLED WITH ORDINARY PONO,
AND UNORDINARY LOVE!
SO BREATHE IT IN, LET GRATITUDE LIFT—
O KĒLĀ ME KĒIA LĀ, HE MAKANA!
Outro - Fading Warmth
He makana… (It's a gift…)
Music simplifies to just ʻukulele and bass
For you… and you… and you…
A final, harmonious hum from the group, holding a major chord
Mahalo nui… (Thank you very much…)
Music fades on a warm, resolved note, leaving a feeling of complete contentment.
The morning sun through lauhala blinds,
A fresh-brewed kope (coffee) on my mind.
The neighbor's keiki (child) laughing in the stream,
These simple things are not what they seem.
It's not the grand and planned affair,
It's just the mālie (calm) in the air.
A hāliʻa (cherished memory) being made right now,
I see the ʻike (understanding) on your brow.
Chorus - Full, Communal Harmony
O kēlā me kēia lā, he makana! (Every single day, is a gift!)
From the lā (sun) that rises to the hōkū (star) above!
Filled with ordinary pono (goodness),
And unordinary love!
So breathe it in, let gratitude lift—
O kēlā me kēia lā, he makana!
Verse 2
The shared ʻono (delicious) from a common bowl,
A story that helps mend a soul.
The helping hand before you ask,
A smile behind a weathered mask.
The fruit that falls from a stranger's tree,
The aloha you were meant to be.
These are the threads, both strong and fine,
That weave this ʻohana (family) of yours and mine.
Chorus - Stronger, More Assured Harmony
O kēlā me kēia lā, he makana! (Every single day, is a gift!)
From the lā that rises to the hōkū above!
Filled with ordinary pono,
And unordinary love!
So breathe it in, let gratitude lift—
O kēlā me kēia lā, he makana!
Bridge - Softer, Reflective
So when the rain falls on Haleakalā,
Or you feel a little far…
Remember the pule (prayer) in the trade wind's sigh,
And the mālamalama (light) in a friend's eye.
For the gift is not in getting through,
But in seeing the gift in front of you.
Final Chorus - Big, Uplifting, Anthemic
O KĒLĀ ME KĒIA LĀ, HE MAKANA! (EVERY SINGLE DAY, IS A GIFT!)
FROM THE LĀ THAT RISES TO THE HŌKŪ ABOVE!
FILLED WITH ORDINARY PONO,
AND UNORDINARY LOVE!
SO BREATHE IT IN, LET GRATITUDE LIFT—
O KĒLĀ ME KĒIA LĀ, HE MAKANA!
Outro - Fading Warmth
He makana… (It's a gift…)
Music simplifies to just ʻukulele and bass
For you… and you… and you…
A final, harmonious hum from the group, holding a major chord
Mahalo nui… (Thank you very much…)
Music fades on a warm, resolved note, leaving a feeling of complete contentment.