Was da night befo Christmas an all troo
         da hale
No body was stirring, not even one iole

Small ekes was hung on da wall ova deah
In da hopes da menehune soon would be heah

Small kids was sleepin-up
         on top one sleeping mat
And dey dream about kulolo an tings li dat

Mama and me all set fo enjoy one nice res
We figa get ten hour moemoe -- da bes

Den out by da grasses dere been one big clatta
Me I jump up fo go look what's da matta

Out in da grasses I peeked troo lauhala
Da moon was all shiny ju' like one big silva dalla

An den you know what I wen spark ova deah:
Da good menehune and his eight little kia

Mo quicka den ukus da bunch of dem came
And he make one oioio and he call dem by name

"Ehula, Elele, Elala, Eliu,
And Hoku, Kupi, Hakila, Uila,
Up da lanai bruddah, on top da paia
Now come on you guys or we get pilikia."

Den jus like one dry leaf dat blow all around
Dem guys make one run and take off from da groun

Den quick like one wink way on toppa da roof
I wen heah da footprints made by dey hoof

And jus when I goin back inside my room
Dat menehune slide down wit one poom!

He move even more fas den one mahimahi
His malo all lepo cause he lan in pa'u ahi

His face stay all shiny, wit big white whiskas
His nose all ehu jus like hibiscus

His face was hauoli all fill up wit joy
An his opu shake when he laugh
         ja like one-finger poi

On top his back he get one big eke
All fill up wit toys for each little keiki

Now he no tell nuttin but he make hana hana
An he fill up dose ekes wit plenny makana

He so funny I start laughing an yet
He make like one wink fo me no get upset

Den he put up his finga long side his iku
An mo quick den you guys can say
         "Jonah Kuhio"
He jump top da roof and dem guys all togedda
Float up in da airs jus like dakine fedda

"Aloha!" he say, "I like every kanaka
Fo get fo himself one Mele Kalikimaka

Aloha,
   --- K.K. Kaumanua