“Laka, Lei of the Forest”
Composed by Barbara Dempsey
A sweet and reverent song honoring Laka, the Hawaiian goddess of hula and the forest. The lyrics celebrate her grace, beauty, and the spiritual connection between dancer and nature. This gentle mele invites Laka’s spirit to dwell within the dancer — a heartfelt offering of aloha through movement and song.
Verse 1:
In the stillness of the forest green,
Soft winds whisper where you’ve been, Laka, goddess, born of light,
You teach our hearts to dance at night.
Chorus A:
Laka, lei of the forest divine,
Your spirit blossoms in every line,
Hands that tell of love and rain,
Feet that call the earth again.
Verse 2: Every fern and flower sways,
In rhythm with your sacred ways,
You are the breath in every song,
The reason we all dance along.
Chorus B:
Laka, lei of the forest divine,
Your beauty grows through ancient time, In every hula, soft and true,
We offer all our love to you.
Bridge:
O Laka, come dwell in me,
Let my motion set you free,
In every smile, in every turn,
Your fire of aloha burns.
Chorus C:
Laka, lei of the forest divine,
Guide our hearts through hula’s line,
With gentle grace, forever new,
We dance this life in honor of you.
Tag / Outro:
Laka e,
Dance in me…
Under moonlight,
Forever free.
Laka e, hula i loko oʻu,
I lalo o ka mahina,
No nā kau a pau —
Wau nō me ʻoe.
Laka, dance within me,
Beneath the moon,
Through all the seasons
I am with you.




