Kumu hula’s spirit ‘would fill the room and beyond’

Services for kumu hula Leina‘ala Kalama Heine, who taught several generations of hula dancers and performed with the Brothers Cazimero, will be at noon Friday at Ala Moana Beach Park followed by a celebration of life from 4 to 9 p.m. at Blaisdell Center. Heine died Sept. 9, surrounded by family. She was 75.

Heine was kumu of an award-winning halau, Na Pualei o Likolehua, and danced solo with the Brothers Cazimero for more than 30 years. She was sometimes referred to as “the third brother.”

A former judge at the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo, she was also a regular participant at the Prince Lot Hula Festival at Moanalua Gardens and dedicated herself to nurturing the next generation of hula dancers at the Queen Lili‘uokalani Keiki Hula Competition.

Born in Honolulu, Heine was named Rebecca Leina‘ala Kalama Heine, but she was affectionately known as ‘Ala. She grew up in Kapalama, attended Kamehameha Schools and graduated from McKinley High School. She was an entertainer, chanter and one of the leaders of the hula renaissance in the 1970s.

Heine’s four children — Niuli‘i, Kalama, ‘Auli‘i and Heali‘i — called her a creative pioneer in traditional and modern dance and an innovator “who gave endlessly” to the Hawaiian culture and community.

“My mom always had a bright light that would fill the room and beyond,” said Niuli‘i, Heine’s eldest daughter, who became a kumu hula and chanted alongside her at Merrie Monarch.

“She was a mom to everyone,” said Heine’s son, Kalama, who remembers her chanting to all the paddlers at the finish line. “No matter if the person was in hula, sports or in any Hawaiian cultural activity, she made that person feel special.”

“She had so much love for so many people, and they loved her even more,” said ‘Auli‘i Hirahara, Heine’s daughter. “She had a presence about her that would make any stranger feel comfortable.”

Heali‘i, Heine’s youngest daughter, remembers her mom’s ability to make a ti leaf skirt perfectly in just 20 minutes on the back porch before a luau show, as well as her embrace, her honi (greeting) and smile. “Raised eyebrows, lips smiling ear to ear,” she wrote in an email, “facial expressions to make you laugh, love and live.”

Heine trained as a kumu hula under the distinguished late kumu Maiki Aiu Lake, along with Robert Cazimero. She also studied with Joseph Kaha‘ulelio, Vicky I‘i Rodrigues, Ruby Ahakuelo, Puanani Alama and the late Leilani Alama.

“We are heartbroken,” said Robert and Roland Cazimero in a statement issued by the Mountain Apple Co. “The depth of our pain and sorrow from her passing is a result of all the joy, laughter and love we shared during her life with us. We will always cherish the journey we shared with her.”

Heine and Na Pualei o Likolehua, established in 1976, were a regular presence at the Prince Lot Hula Festival over its 38-year history, according to the Moanalua Gardens Foundation. In 2014 she was one of five esteemed kumu hula honored with the festival’s inaugural Malia Kau Award for her excellence as a teacher, cultural practitioner and community advocate.

“Her love of hula radiated from her larger than life personality and her joy in teaching our future generations of dancers and kumu hula,” said the foundation in a statement. “A gifted choreographer, Ala’s interpretations of a mele of Moanalua showed her talent in the use of expressive movements to tell a story like no other kumu hula. Her legacy will continue in the hundreds of haumana (students) who were fortunate to call her kumu.”

She had a great aptitude for comedy, according to Alama’s niece TeMoana Makalo, who grew up with her.

“She was always fun and very joyful and full of laughter — always a kind-hearted person,” she said.

Kristine Palaualelo of Kailua, a former student of Heine’s, remembers her fondly and, in particular, the songs, chants and dances she taught at St. Andrew’s Priory honoring Queen Emma.

“I had the great privilege of being able to learn from her,” she said. “There was this amazing dichotomy about her: well known, beloved, fantastic entertainer, and then there was the kumu. She gave of herself very freely and genuinely as a kumu, so when you then experienced the entertainer side of her, it was mesmerizing.”

Palaualelo, too, remembers Heine’s sense of humor.

“She was completely hilarious and so fun to be around,” she said. “To say that she will be missed is really inadequate.”

Heine performed at Merrie Monarch’s 50th Hoike celebration in 2013, along with the Hau‘oli Hula Maids, the halau that was named overall winner of the festival’s first competition in 1971, and others that were part of its history. She was expected to compete with her halau next year, according to festival director Luana Kawelu.

“She was a beautiful lady,” said Kawelu. “It’s a big loss. She will always be part of us.”

Heine is survived by sisters Rose Lum and Doreen Kalama, four children, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, as well numerous nieces and nephews.

Viewing is from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at Magic Island at Ala Moana Beach Park on Friday, followed by services at noon and the scattering of ashes. The family asks guests to bring single, loose flowers (with no string) for the ocean. A celebration of life, open to the public, takes place from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Blaisdell Center’s Pikake Room.