Kumu hula Denise Ka‘uhionamauna Kia Ramento of Pearl City always lived life to the fullest but spent the last few years, in particular, imparting as much wisdom and knowledge as she could to her six children.
Ramento died Tuesday morning at The Queen’s Medical Center-West Oahu, surrounded by her husband, children and extended family after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 64.
“I can say, upfront, my mom taught us how to love God,” said daughter Theresa Tehiva, “how to love each other, how to be kind and generous, how to do things with our heart, and to appreciate.”
Born in Honolulu, Ramento was a student of kumu hula Luka and Louise Kaleiki of the ‘Ilima Hula Studio from age 7. She graduated to kumu hula at the age of 19 and began teaching.
In 1971 she was one of the solo dancers competing for the Miss Aloha Hula title, and in April of this year she brought her Halau Hula o Kauhionamauna of Waipahu to the group competition at the Merrie Monarch Festival for the first time, placing fifth in the auana, or modern-style, dance category.
She taught all six of her children — five sons and one daughter – both Tahitian and hula from a very young age. Her sons are all skilled drummers, with Jimmy Allen Ramento Jr. and Christopher Ramento now leading Heretama Nui, the award-winning Tahitian group she co-founded with twin brother Dennis Kia.
Tehiva remembers she and her siblings spent summer vacations practicing for the keiki hula competition. Instead of summer fun programs, they danced. The close-knit family bonded through dance and looked to their mother for insight and guidance.
“She taught us to be our best in everything we do,” said Tehiva. “She also taught us to malama our kupuna, to be respectful. She was strict because she only expected the best, and she challenged us to be the best.”
Son Christopher Ramento said, “We will carry on. We’ll continue what she started for us.”
On Facebook, former students and friends offered an outpouring of love and prayers, sharing stories of how Ramento inspired them.
Kumu hula Lani Girl Kaleiki-AhLo of ‘Ilima Hula Studio, daughter of the late Louise Kaleiki, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser she knew Ramento as “Auntie Niecey” and described her as “strict when need be and tender loving in a drop of a hat.”
She will remember Ramento for her “soft laughter” and “how she did everything with love.”
Ramento was on stage with her and several generations of dancers from ‘Ilima Hula Studio ranging from the late 1950s to ’80s during the Merrie Monarch’s 50th-year hoike celebration in 2013, representing their expressive dance style, with uplifted shoulders, lots of facial expression and graceful elegance. Later, Ramento was determined to bring her halau to compete.
“I’m just so happy she had the opportunity to come back on stage, because she really wanted to,” said Merrie Monarch Festival President Luana Kawelu. “I’m happy that dream was fulfilled.”
Daughter Theresa Tehiva said she and brother Christopher plan to bring the halau back in 2018, as their mother had planned.
“Mom set it out already for us that we were going to go,” she said.
Besides being director of entertainment for the Ali‘i Kai Catamaran dinner sail for about 15 years, providing shows during the evening cruise, Ramento was dedicated to the Hawaii pa‘u riders for more than 20 years and was a pa‘u queen.
“She led a beautiful life and left peacefully,” said Christopher Ramento. “It helps us to find joy that she’s there (in heaven) with our family and reuniting with all her good friends.”
She is survived by husband Jimmy Allen Ramento Sr.; sons Jimmy Jr., Christopher, Francis, Thomas and Major Ramento; daughter Theresa Tehiva; and 18 grandchildren.
Services will be held Sept. 22 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, 1525 Waimano Home Road, Pearl City, with viewing at
9 a.m. followed by 11 a.m. Mass. Burial is at 1:30 p.m. at Mililani Memorial Park &Mortuary in Waipahu, followed by a drum performance. Aloha attire, flowers and lei are welcome.
