Life of revered Loea Hula Nalani Kanakaole celebrated in Hilo

HILO (HawaiiNewsNow) – A light rain fell in Hilo Saturday almost as if the heavens wept alongside the hundreds of mourners who gathered to honor the life of revered Loea Hula Kumu Nālani Kanakaʻole.

Her celebration of life was held in a place named after her mother, the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium. Kumu Nālani died on Jan. 3 at the age of 79.

She was a respected wealth of Hawaiian knowledge, becoming a master kumu hula, a businesswoman, and beloved cultural leader.

The hoʻolewa was steeped in rich Hawaiian culture and traditional protocol.

“Her life and legacy is a multi-hyphenate kanaka. Everything that she touched, everything that she created, all of the collaborations, the people, the projects, were all grounded in kanaka truths,” her son Kuhaʻo Zane said.


Those in attendance remembered her for both her hard-working spirit and fun-loving nature.

“She enjoyed life. And I think thatʻs what I remember of her. When itʻs time to work, we work. And you work hard. When itʻs time to play, when itʻs time to have fun, she was right there,” kumu hula and longtime friend Vicky Holt Takamine said.


Her family also shared some of Kumu Nālaniʻs famous sayings over the years.

“Come on, everybody, front row mentality. Front row mentality!” her nephew Keala Kanakaʻole shared, as the crowd chuckled.

The celebration also included an ʻawa ceremony and the recitation of her moʻokūʻauhau, or genealogy. Milestones in her life were also on display.

“The life I lived with Nālani for the past 50 years has been an incredible ride. How fortunate to have a partner that would feed me with purity and delight in an amazing way,” said her husband, renowned fashion designer Sig Zane.

Hālau O Kekuhi members danced through their heartache as they sent a final aloha to their kumu.

“She expected excellence from you. She wanted discipline from you. You sat and you learned from her, it was an amazing experience to sit there and learn from her,” Kumu Vicky said.

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