Haunani Kahalewai (February 19, 1929March 2, 1982) was a singer and entertainer known as the "First Lady of Song in Hawai‘i". Her distinctive contralto voice spanned three octaves. She was featured on dozens of recordings and headlined the Polynesian Review at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki. Kahalewai was inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame in 1996.

Early life and education

Myrna Kahaunaniomaunakeakauiokalewa Kahalewai was born in

Hilo Hilo () is a census-designated place (CDP) and the largest settlement in Hawaii County, Hawaii, Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States, which encompasses the Hawaii (island), Island of Hawaii. The population was 44,186 according to the 2020 United ...

on February 19, 1929. The day she was born an unusual snowfall blanketed

Mauna Kea Mauna Kea ( or ; ; abbreviation for ''Mauna a Wākea''); is a dormant volcano on the island of Hawaii. Its peak is above sea level, making it the highest point in the state of Hawaii and second-highest peak of an island on Earth. The peak is ...

; her given middle name is translated as "beautiful snow on the slopes of Mauna Kea". Her voice was first recognized at age three, when she won a silver dollar in a radio contest hosted by

Ray Kinney Ray Kinney (September 26, 1900 – February 1, 1972) was a singer, musician, composer, orchestra leader, and performer on radio, stage and screen. Biography Kinney was born in Hilo, Hawaii to Irish-Hawaiian parents William & Pilialoha Kinney. ...

. She performed in her high school chorus and graduated from Kaimukī High School in 1947

Career

Kahalewai was well known for her sultry voice, her three octave range, and her stately manner. She performed on dozens of commercial records and recorded with

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American ...

and

Capitol Records Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007) is an American record label distributed by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-based record label of note ...

Her biography at the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame describes her as "the most widely-recognized and revered female singing voice in Hawai‘i during her memorable professional career. She began her professional career in a small club outside Honolulu. Kahalewai performed with musical group the Rainbow Serenaders in the 1950s in small clubs on Oahu. They won a talent contest to perform at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel for a two-week engagement, which became a three-month gig due to their popularity. Later, a producer filming in Hawai‘i recorded her voice on a film soundtrack; after hearing her on the film soundtrack, producer

Webley Edwards Webley Edwards (November 11, 1902 – October 5, 1977) was a World War II news correspondent, National radio host and politician. Early life and education Edwards was the starting quarterback at Oregon State University Oregon State Unive ...

exclaimed, "Find that voice!" Performer Al Kealoha Perry convinced Kahalewai to stop performing at a small resort on Kauaʻi in order to perform on Edwards's weekly radio program '' Hawaii Calls''. She became one of the featured singers on ''Hawaii Calls''. Kahalewai was the star of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel's Polynesian Revue. She hired many well-regarded Hawaiian performers to perform with her at the Royal Hawaiian's Monarch Room, including singers

Danny Kaleikini Danny "Kaniela" Kaleikini (October 10, 1937 – January 6, 2023) was an American singer, musical artist, and entertainer. Best known for his long-term Concert residency, residency at the The Kahala Hotel & Resort, Kahala Hilton in Hawaii, where ...

, Nina Kealiiwahamana, and Boyce Rodrigues, and hula dancers

Beverly Noa Beverly Kauiokanahele Noa (June 14, 1933October 19, 2017) was a Hawaiian hula dancer. Noa was the 1952 winner of the Miss Hawaii contest and was inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame in 2014. Early years and career Beverly Kathleen Riv ...

and Lani Custino. She performed with

Donn Beach Donn Beach (born Ernest Raymond Gantt; February 22, 1907 – June 7, 1989) was an American adventurer, businessman, and World War II veteran who was the "founding father" of tiki culture. He is known for opening the first prototypical tiki bar, Don ...

in his Sunday luau shows at Don the Beachcomber.

Alfred Apaka Alfred Aholo Apaka, Jr. (March 19, 1919 – January 30, 1960) was a Hawaiian singer whose romantic baritone voice was closely identified with Hawaii between the late 1940s and the early 1960s. Alfred Apaka was arguably the foremost interpreter of ...

requested Kahalewai as the featured female vocalist with him in Waikiki. She toured the world with a full show of dancers, musicians, and singers. She also reportedly broke box office records when she performed at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto.

Later life and legacy

After leaving Hawai‘i for the San Francisco area, Kahalewai considered herself semi-retired, but performed for special occasions. She 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. Kahalewai was acknowledged by Hawaiian entertainers as "Hawai‘i's First Lady of Song". She was inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame in 1996, its second year of existence.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kahalewai, Haunani 1929 births 1982 deaths 20th-century American singers 20th-century American women singers American people of Native Hawaiian descent Native Hawaiian musicians People from Hilo, Hawaii