Kumu ‘Iolani Luahine
(1915 – 1978)
Kumu ‘Iolani Luahine
Photo: The Honolulu Advertiser, July 2, 2006
ʻIolani Luahine was a legendary native Hawaiian kumu hula, dancer, chanter and instructor who was considered the “high priestess” of ancient hula. She played an important role in the Second Hawaiian Renaissance during the 1970s.
Early Life and Family
Born Harriet Lanihau Makekau on January 31, 1915 in Nāpo‘opo‘o on the Island of Hawai‘i. Her father, Manase Kaleihau Makekau of Kauaʻi, sent his youngest of four girls to Kaka‘ako to live with her hānai great aunt, Keahi. “To express appreciation, you give someone a child, even if they were not related,” ‘Iolani told the New York Times in 1975 of her adoption. “It was the highest gift.”
Keahi renamed Harriet to ‘Iolani at the advice of a kahuna nui when she developed a serious illness in her eyes. Reportedly, ‘Iolani never had issues with her eyesight after being given the Hawaiian name for a heavenly hawk.
At the age of four, ‘Iolani began to learn ancient hula from Keahi at the family studio on Ilaniwai Street. Keahi knew hula was frowned upon at the time but she nevertheless wanted to keep her ancestral line of Kanuena hula from Kaua‘i alive. Her education continued at St. Andrew’s Priory, a selection Keahi made because it was one of the few schools hula was permitted at. The next step in her training came during her time as an undergrad at the University of Hawai‘i under the guidance of Mary Kawena Pukui, another student of her aunt Keahi.
SEE ALSO: Significant Women in Hawai‘i History
“High Priestess of Hula”
As a professional dancer ʻIolani was in high demand to perform at public events and in 1947 opened her own hula hālau on Queen Street. It was here that she trained over 300 haumāna in the ancient rituals, chants, authentic instrumentation and proper production of appropriate costumes for hula.
Students of ‘Iolani describe her style of teaching and her approach as a practitioner and teacher of ancient hula as if she had a mystical connection to the spiritual world. She would tell moʻolelo of the people and the natural elements in each song. It is said that when ʻIolani danced it appeared as if she was channeling thousands of years of ancestors. A true storyteller and, in the same spirit of her aunty, a fearsome advocate for the sacred hula ceremony.
‘Iolani was among the first to receive the State Order of Distinction for Cultural Leadership in 1970. Later that same year, she received a medal for her contribution to the arts from the State Foundation of Culture and the Arts.
READ MORE: Celebrating Women in Hawai‘i History: Genoa Keawe
Death and Afterlife
‘Iolani Lauhine died at the age 63 on December 10, 1978 in her home on Hawai‘i Island. Like her great aunt and first mentor, Keahi, ‘Iolani continued the tradition of passing her gift of knowledge of ancient hula to following generations—and influencing her students to do the same. And in 2003, the ‘Iolani Luahine Festival was established to perpetuate hula in her memory.
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