Denise Ka’uhionamauna Ramento, beloved kumu hula of Halau Hula O Kauhionamauna of Waipahu died on Tuesday. She was 64.

Ramento was a solo competitor in the first Miss Hula held at the Merrie Monarch Festival in 1971, and recently brought her halau to the festival’s group competition for the first time in April, placing fifth in the auana, or modern-style, dance category.

She began dancing at the age of seven with kumu hula Luka and Louise Kaleiki of the ‘Ilima Hula Studio in Honolulu, graduating to kumu hula herself at the age of 19. She is also one of the founders of Pupukahi Otea, an award-winning hula and Tahitian dance troupe now known as Heretama Nui.

She was married to Jimmy Ramento, the mother of six and numerous grandchildren. Service information is pending.