Nālani Kanakaʻole
Hawaiin Kumu hula (1946–2026)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nālani Kanakaʻole (March 19, 1946 – January 3, 2026)[1] was a Hawaiian kumu hula (hula teacher) at Hālau o Kekuhi, the dance company.[2] The daughter of Edith Kanakaʻole, she led Hālau o Kekuhi along with her niece Huihui Kanahele-Mossman.[3] In 1993, she and her sister, Pualani Kanakaʻole Kanahele, were jointly named National Heritage Fellows by the National Endowment for the Arts, which recognized them as "Hula Masters".[2]
Nālani Kanakaʻole | |
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| Born | March 19, 1946 Keaukaha, Hilo, Hawaii Territory, U.S. |
| Died | January 3, 2026 (aged 79) Keaukaha, Hilo, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Occupation | Kumu hula |
| Years active | 1960–2026 |
| Spouse | Sig Zane |
| Children | Kūhaʻo Zane |
| Mother | Edith Kanakaʻole |
| Relatives |
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Early life and education
Born on March 19, 1946, Kanakaʻole was raised on homestead lands in Keaukaha, Hilo, Hawaii, in a traditional Hawaiian fashion.[4] She first learned hula from her grandmother, Mary Kekuewa Kanaele Fujii. She was 13 years old when her mother Edith Kanakaʻole started work as a hula teacher, and began teaching hula herself at the age of 14 in 1960. Her family spoke the Hawaiian language at home.[3]
