LIHUE — Kauai’s Kumu Hula Leina‘ala Pavao-Jardin passed quietly on Saturday at the age of 51.
The news, heard from several news sources and social media accounts, was confirmed by her family.
Kauai Interscholastic Federation football official Bryan Aiwohi whose wife, daughter and son are heavily involved with Halau Ka Lei Mokihana, said Pavao-Jardin died from the cancer she had been battling.
“My family was there when she passed,” he said Saturday evening while waiting to officiate a KIF football contest at Hanapepe Stadium. “I told them, they need to come out with an official news release instead of having people make up their own stories.”
Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami released the following statement on Sunday.
“On behalf of the people of Kauai and Ni‘ihau, we extend our deepest condolences on the passing of Kumu Hula Leina‘ala Pavao-Jardin, a cherished daughter of our island whose profound aloha, artistry and unwavering dedication to hula enriched our community and elevated the cultural spirit of Hawaii. As the heart and soul of Halau Ka Lei Mokihana O Leina‘ala, she nurtured generations of dancers with grace, discipline and deep cultural knowledge, ensuring the traditions of our kupuna lived on with pride and authenticity. Her presence was a light in our lives, and her legacy will forever be etched in the rhythm of our mele and the sway of our hula. We mourn her loss, celebrate her life and honor the immeasurable impact she leaves behind. Kumu Leina‘ala will be deeply missed.”
Her latest hula achievement was the production of a Miss Aloha Hula winner — her niece, Jaedyn Janae Puahaulani Pavao — at the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival during this year’s competition.
In addition to earning numerous awards at the prestigious hula event on Hawaii Island, Kumu Leina‘ala led Halau Ka Lei Mokihana O Leina‘a to victory during the 2022 competition.
According to Hawaii News Now, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in July 2024. She battled the cancer with the support of her family, and became open about her fight before heading to the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival.
Source: The Garden Island
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