Haunani Kahalewai was a singer and entertainer known as the "First Lady of Song in Hawai'i".
17 Facts About Haunani Kahalewai
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Haunani Kahalewai was featured on dozens of recordings and headlined the Polynesian Review at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki.
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Myrna Kahaunaniomaunakeakauiokalewa Kahalewai was born in Hilo on February 19,1929.
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Haunani Kahalewai's voice was first recognized at age three, when she won a silver dollar in a radio contest hosted by Ray Kinney.
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Haunani Kahalewai performed in her high school chorus and graduated from Kaimuki High School in 1947.
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Haunani Kahalewai was well known for her sultry voice, her three octave range, and her stately manner.
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Haunani Kahalewai began her professional career in a small club outside Honolulu.
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Haunani Kahalewai performed with musical group the Rainbow Serenaders in the 1950s in small clubs on Oahu.
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Haunani Kahalewai became one of the featured singers on Hawaii Calls.
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Haunani Kahalewai was the star of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel's Polynesian Revue.
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Haunani Kahalewai hired many well-regarded Hawaiian performers to perform with her at the Royal Hawaiian's Monarch Room, including singers Danny Kaleikini, Nina Keali'iwahamana, and Boyce Rodrigues, and hula dancers Beverly Noa and Lani Custino.
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Haunani Kahalewai performed with Donn Beach in his Sunday luau shows at Don the Beachcomber.
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Haunani Kahalewai toured the world with a full show of dancers, musicians, and singers.
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Haunani Kahalewai reportedly broke box office records when she performed at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto.
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Haunani Kahalewai went back to school and prepared for a new career in computers, but before she could do so, she died at her home in San Carlos, California, on March 2,1982.
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Haunani Kahalewai was acknowledged by Hawaiian entertainers as "Hawai'i's First Lady of Song".
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Haunani Kahalewai was inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame in 1996, its second year of existence.