Aunty Edith Kanakaʻole (hula and chant)

Revered Hilo kumu hula, chanter and composer who helped lead the Hawaiian cultural revival. Born in Honomū in 1913, she founded Hālau O Kekuhi in 1953 and taught at UH Hilo. In 2023 she became the first Native Hawaiian woman on a U.S. quarter. Hilo's Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium hosts the Merrie Monarch Festival every year.

• Born Oct. 30, 1913, in Honomū on the Hāmākua Coast; died Oct. 3, 1979.
• Founded Hālau O Kekuhi in 1953, named for her mother.
• Taught Hawaiian language and culture at UH Hilo (1973 to 1979); a campus building bears her name.
• 2023 American Women quarter: the first Native Hawaiian woman on a U.S. quarter.
• The Edith Kanakaʻole Foundation (1990) carries on her family's teachings.
• The Edith Kanakaʻole Multi-Purpose Stadium in Hilo is home to the Merrie Monarch hula competition.

Sources: Wikipedia: Edith Kanakaʻole · University of Hawaiʻi News: Kanakaʻole quarter unveiled

Last checked Nov. 1, 2026. Hours, fees and rules can change, so confirm with the official source before you go.