Kumu Hula, Producer, Entertainer, Musician, Recording Artist
Julia Kealoha Kalama-Cabral
April 27, 1932 – June 22, 2025
Editor’s note: In 1995, Kealoha Kalama was interviewed for the Kalihi Pālama Culture and Arts Society’s “Nānā i nā Loea Hula” oral history project. Her quotes here are sourced from that transcript.
Kealoha Kalama, whose life embodied the rhythm, beauty and spirit of Hawaiʻi, passed away peacefully at the age of 93. Her daughter Jewel and granddaughter Julianne served as primary caregivers during the last years of her life.
As a dancer, singer, kumu hula and producer, Kalama inspired thousands with her movement, her voice and her creative energy as she shared the vibrancy of the Hawaiian culture with audiences across the globe.
From an ʻohana of 13 brothers and sisters – she was the eighth child – Kalama was raised in Nānākuli and Kapālama.
“We grew up with lots of music and hula, but most of all a good life out in the country. We had a big place for us to run around, lots of flowers everywhere and parents who gave all of us what they could. My big love was the hula,” Kalama said.
She said she was “somehow always involved” with music and singing, learning how to play the ʻukulele, piano and even trying her hand at guitar.
Kalama’s mother, Virginia Hamau Kalama, was the community association president and the president of the Nānākuli Hawaiian Civic Club. She was also very much involved in politics.
“While growing up I saw her work so hard for that community,” Kalama said. “She always played music, and she got us children involved too. I always say that my mother was my biggest inspiration in my entertainment life.”
Kalama’s first formal hula instructor was Puanani Alama, whom she described as a beautiful hula dancer and wonderful instructor. She then met John Piilani Watkins.
“I was very honored to perform for his group. He was also my kumu in hula and sometimes music. John was a great composer, beautiful singer and musician, and just a fantastic entertainer.”
In the late 1950s, Kalama was featured on shows held at the old Kapahulu Tavern, the Waikīkī Sands Club and on the neighbor islands. Her first trip to the continent in the early ʻ60s was an exciting month-long excursion spent entertaining from Los Angeles to Washington state.
Watkins introduced Kalama to Joseph Kahaulelio who, along with Pauline Kekahuna, was looking for hula dancers for their big shows at the Princess Ka- ʻiulani Hotel and at the Moana Hotel.
Kalama would go on to become the featured dancer at shows at the Halekūlani Hotel and Hilton Hawaiian Village, often taking the stage to the song There Goes Kealoha.
During her career, Kalama would dance for legendary Hawaiian entertainers such as Vicki Iʻi Rodrigues, Genoa Keawe, Bill Aliʻiloa Lincoln, Louise Kaleiki, Leinaala Haile and Leinaala Simerson.
She also had the privilege of traveling with “Uncle” Sol Bright and “Hawaiʻi’s Songbird” Lena Machado to Japan and across the continent.
After returning from Japan, Kalama worked as a visitors’ information hostess for the state Department of Transportation. The job entailed entertaining many of the VIPs who arrived in Hawaiʻi.
“We greeted people at Hickam Air Force Base as well, even the president of the United States,” Kalama said. “Our biggest thrill was greeting Elvis Presley when he did a concert here at our old stadium.”
Kalama was then asked to serve as a ground hostess for Aloha Airlines where she brought Hawaiian music to airports everywhere. She also traveled for the Hawaiʻi Visitors Bureau, sharing her culture throughout the United States, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.
She also traveled to Europe – a trip that included a performance for the British royal family.
In 1969, she produced her own Hawaiian revue at Ulumau Village in Kāneʻohe, then put on a Polynesian revue for the Waikīkī Resort Hotel. She also produced shows at the Reef Hotel, Hyatt Regency, Halekūlani Hotel and Bishop Museum.
“I’ve had the most beautiful dancers and wonderful musicians – Atta Issacs, Harold Hakuole, Billy Hew Len, Larry Asing, Peter Mendiola, Arthur Hew Len and Pua Almeida. And two great singers in Gary Aiko and Frances Kamahele,” she said.
There are so many talented and recognizable names that Kalama shared a stage with: Ethelyne Teves, Jeff Teves, Joe Keaulana, Ainsley Halemanu, Joan “Aunty Pudgie” Young, “Aunty” Lovey Apana, Robert Cazimero, Andy Cummings and Myra English to name a few.
“I’ve also had the pleasure of entertaining with friends who were great in both hula ʻauana and hula kahiko – George Holokai and Kimo Alama Keaulana, who also worked on my Polynesian revue in Waikīkī,” she said.
Kalama also performed with singer Rosalie Stevenson – who sometimes sang with the great Alfred Apaka. The two traveled extensively throughout Australia, Kwajalein, Johnson Island, Okinawa, Guam and Saipan.
In 1971, Kalama opened Hālau Hula o Pōhai Kealoha (hālau hula of encircling love) on the grounds of Bishop Museum. She taught – and performed – at the museum for over 25 years.
She also brought Hawaiian culture to military children, serving as a kupuna in the Hawaiian studies program at Admiral Nimitz Elementary School.
“It’s been a challenge to teach military children,” Kalama said. “But I really enjoy them learning our culture, singing Hawaiian songs and especially learning how to pronounce our Hawaiian words.”
Kalama served as a judge in many hula competitions – including the Merrie Monarch Festival – and recorded three albums and a single for Pumehana Records, Genoa Keawe Records and her own label, Kalama Records.
She was a member of the Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu and the Kalihi-Pālama Hawaiian Civic Club, as well as being a member of Hale o Nā Aliʻi.
In 2005, she was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts, their highest honor for a lifetime of excellence. That same year, she was also honored by the Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu at its annual Holukū Ball.
In 2023, Kalama was enshrined in the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame.
Kealoha Kalama was preceded in death by husband, Wilfred Cabral, and is survived by her three children Jewel K. Scoggins, Sidney Kahoonei and Raymond Kahoonei; three sisters Pearl Momi Kaeo, Rosella Puanani Kalama-Akiona and Jackie Maynard; four grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
