The Feeling Inside "How Do You Do"
Waking up after an intimate night to gentle morning sun over the Pacific — calm waves, fresh island air, playful smiles, and love beginning anew like a freshly strung lei.
The closing track of Sensual — leading the listener out of the deep nocturnal passion into daylight. Uplifting gratitude, renewed joy, and a warm Hawaiian smile to send you home.
Where the Song Takes You
The morning-after reflection begins with gentle nostalgia: "Once I said I wanted you / Underneath the moonlit sky / I can't recall the reason why—aloha / But still I wonder if it's true / That you could make my wahine cry." Memory hazy, feeling clear.
The pre-chorus holds the album's loveliest reconciliation image: "I only know it's long ago / By the swaying palms you whispered, 'I love you too' / So I found a simple plan, my dear / To start again, like a fresh lei—new." A fresh lei — love restrung, flower by flower, for another day.
Verse two sharpens the memory: "Now I know why I wanted you / The memory's crystal clear, my dear." What was hazy at dawn is certain by full light. The na-na-na refrains and the mm-hmm harmonies carry the song out the way a good morning carries you — lightly, and smiling for no particular reason.
How It Sounds
Breezy island retro pop at ~88 BPM half-time — the sunniest groove on Sensual, with the reggae up-strum and organ skank subdividing at ~176 BPM double-time. Crisp reggae up-strums and melodic acoustic picking build the island swing, a warm walking bassline keeps it buoyant, and light organ skank locks in with the upbeat reggae chop.
Kaimana and Lehua trade affectionate call-and-response — "How do you do... mm-hmm" and the irresistible na-na-na refrains — with the warm interplay of two people who clearly still like each other in the morning. The album could not end on a brighter note.
The Journey Through the Song
- 0:00 – 0:12 · Intro The morning mood Breezy pop-reggae chop, catchy "mm-hmm... mm-hmm" hums — sunrise, in audio.
- 0:13 – 0:34 · Verse 1 The hazy memory "Once I said I wanted you / Underneath the moonlit sky / I can't recall the reason why—aloha..."
- 0:35 – 0:46 · Pre-Chorus Like a fresh lei—new "By the swaying palms you whispered, 'I love you too' / So I found a simple plan, my dear..."
- 0:47 – 1:12 · Chorus 1 How do you do "Just me and you beneath the sun—na-na-na-na / Just like before by the ocean blue..."
- 1:13 – 1:34 · Verse 2 Crystal clear "Now I know why I wanted you / The memory's crystal clear, my dear..."
- 1:48 – 2:37 · Chorus 2 & Outro The morning sun fade Radiant duet interplay, then melodic licks and joyful na-na-nas fading into the island breeze.
Images the Song Carries
- morning sun
- calm ocean
- fresh air
- gentle smiles
Moments to Catch
Lyrics
Once I said I wanted you
Underneath the moonlit sky
I can't recall the reason why—aloha
But still I wonder if it's true
That you could make my wahine cry
[Pre-Chorus]
I only know it's long ago
By the swaying palms you whispered, "I love you too"
So I found a simple plan, my dear
To start again, like a fresh lei—new
[Chorus]
How do you do, mm-hmm… mm-hmm
I thought, why not—na-na-na-na
Just me and you beneath the sun—na-na-na-na
Just like before by the ocean blue—na-na-na-na
"Please give me more, my sweet haole"
"Hey, that's what I'm living for—mahalo!"
[Verse 2]
Now I know why I wanted you
The memory's crystal clear, my dear
And yes I'm certain it is true
You're the one who made my wahine tear
[Pre-Chorus]
But it's not so long ago
By the swaying palms you whispered, "I love you too"
So I'll keep that simple plan, my dear
To start again, like a fresh lei—new
[Chorus]
How do you do, mm-hmm… mm-hmm
I thought, why not—na-na-na-na
Just me and you beneath the sun—na-na-na-na
Just like before by the ocean blue—na-na-na-na
"Please give me more, my sweet haole"
"Hey, that's what I'm living for—mahalo!"
[Chorus – repeat/fade]
How do you do, mm-hmm… mm-hmm
na-na-na-na… na-na-na-na…