Liliʻuokalani wrote: "The king was present for the purpose of Criticising my new composition of both words and music, and was liberal in his commendations to me on my success.

Each nation, he said, but ours had its statement of patriotism and love of country in its own music; but we were using for that purpose on state occasions the time-honored British anthem, "God save the Queen."

This decidedly Christian song served as the national anthem for ten years until her brother, by that time reigning as King Kalākaua, set it aside in favor of his own composition, "Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī", in 1876.

Ma lalo o kou aloha nui Nā Liʻi o ke Aupuni Me nā makaʻāinana Ka lehulehu nō a pau Kiaʻi mai iā lākou Me ke aloha ahonui E ola nō mākou I kou mana mau E mau ke ea[4] Almighty Father bend thine ear And listen to a nation's prayer That lowly bows before thy throne And seeks thy fostering care Grant your peace throughout the land Over these sunny sea girt isles From Hawaiʻi to Niʻihau, And on our sovereign smile

Bless O Lord our country's chiefs Grant them wisdom so to live That our people may be saved And to You the glory give Watch over us day by day King and people with your love For our hope is all in You Bless us, You who reign above Grant your peace throughout the land As a part of the United States