Cliff Edwards - Sweet Leilani - Hawaii Ukulele Ike 1930’s 1937

“Sweet Leilani“ is a song from the 1937 film, Waikiki Wedding. Harry Owens wrote the song on October 20, 1934, for his daughter Leilani who was born the previous day. Leilani is a popular Hawaiian name, meaning “heavenly garland of flowers“ (not “heavenly flower“). It also has a figurative meaning -- small Hawaiian children were carried on their parents’ shoulders like a lei (a garland) so the name took on the meaning “heavenly child“. It won the Academy Award for Bes