Uncle george naope biography samples
George Na'ope's full name is George Lanakilakekiahiali'i Na'ope, but throughout the Hawaiian Islands he is known simply as “Uncle George.” He is revered for his.!
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George Na‘ope
Born in Kalihi, Hawaiʻi in 1928 and raised in Hilo, George Lanakilakeikiahialiʻi Naʻope was a foundational figure in the perpetuation, visibility, and celebration of Hawaiian culture.
Affectionately and respectfully known as “Uncle George,” he was a revered kumu hula—a title that translates to “source of the dance” and carries layers of meaning. To be a kumu hula signifies that a person belongs to a lineage of revered culture bearers who have trained in and mastered the arts of traditional dancing, chanting, costuming, drumming, religious and ritual protocol, and other sorts of Hawaiian knowledge.
From a musical family, Uncle George’s grandfather, Harry Na‘ope, was a famous conductor and composer of several beautiful Hawaiian songs, including “Hawai‘i No E Ka Oi.” This family reverence for the arts is why his great grandmother, Mary Malia Pukaokalani, directed him to hula—back when it was still underground—taking him at the age of four to his first ku