Genoa Keawe

Who was Genoa Keawe?

‘Aunty’ Genoa Leilani Adolpho Keawe-Aiko was a Hawaiian musician. Aunty Genoa was born on the island of Oʻahu in the Kakaʻako district of Honolulu and grew up in Lā'ie. She was an icon in Hawaiian music and a mainstay on the Hawaiian music scene for more than 60 years. With her tremendous voice she captivated audiences, kamaʻāina and malihini alike. With a tremendous repertoire of traditional Hawaiian standards and Hapa Haole tunes, she was without equal. Many local artists include Aunty Genoa Keawe among their many influences.

In 2005, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Hawai‘i.