Johnny Lum Ho, kumu hula of Hilo’s Halau O Ka Ua Kani Lehua, died Sunday, one of his students, a respected kumu hula confirmed. He was 81.
“I’m giving thanks to God that I’m here in Hilo and was able to see my kumu and sing to him one last time today,” Napua Greig, kumu hula of Maui’s Halau Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka posted on Facebook. “But especially thanking God that my life was blessed by Uncle Johnny Lum Ho.”
Greig, who is also a Na Hoku Hanohano award-winning artist, said Lum Ho was “the first to see my potential as a solo artist, pushing me to sing when I only wanted to dance.”
Mark Yamanaka, who played in Lum Ho’s halau band and, like Greig, is a multiple Hoku award winner and recording artist, said he’s feeling “kind of numb” upon news of Lum Ho’s passing.
“I’m just kind of putting things into perspective,” Yamanaka told the Tribune-Herald. “I don’t believe it still, but I’m starting recalling the memories and starting to feel a little emotional.”
Lum Ho, who was born in 1941, was known as both a creative kumu hula and one who told the stories of Hawaii’s everyday working people, not the Hawaiian royalty and legends other kumu paid homage to in their dances. He wrote almost all the chants and songs his halau performs in addition to creating the choreography.
He was also the unofficial dean of Merrie Monarch kumu, and his passing marks the end of an era, as he was the last living kumu from the first Merrie Monarch competition in 1971.
Lum Ho’s final time on the festival’s competition stage was in 2018, when Greig was the overall winner. And although Lum Ho’s halau didn’t place in their final competition under his direction, he reached out and congratulated his student on her victory.
“He called me after every Merrie Monarch to tell me how proud he was of me and that I come from his halau,” Greig said.
While Lum Ho’s halau won at least its share of hula hardware at Merrie Monarch, he told the Tribune-Herald in 2016 impressing the judges wasn’t his primary goal.
“I’d rather please the crowd,” Lum Ho said. “You know why? They pay to come in. I just do what I feel excited about doing, and I just want my girls to get ready for that.”
On March 30, 2016, the Ho‘ike night prior to the competition, Lum Ho survived without a scratch during a harrowing incident.
A homeless man under the influence of methamphetamine stole a tractor-trailer from a Makaala Street food distributor and plowed through a closed warehouse gate. The driver made his way to Pilipaa Street in the Panaewa neighborhood, clipped and severed a utility pole then ran off the road and crashed into a house. Along the way, the truck collided with two vehicles, including one driven by Lum Ho.
The following three nights, Lum Ho’s women gave stellar performances, winning the Merrie Monarch’s wahine hula kahiko (ancient hula), wahine hula ‘auana (modern hula) and wahine overall titles.
In a statement, U.S. Rep. Kai Kahele of Hilo praised Lum Ho for his “unique style of song and dance,” as well as “his passion for hula and unsurpassed leadership as a respected kumu.”
“For years, he and his halau, Hula O Ka Ua Kani Lehua graced the Merrie Monarch stage with creativity and memorable performances,” Kahele said. “Maria and I extend our heartfelt condolences to his ‘ohana and loved ones. We are grateful for his significant contributions to Hawaiian culture and hula. His legacy will continue through the many lives he touched.”
Yamanaka said he and his halau sisters and brothers are confident their kumu is in a better place.
“Uncle Johnny is smiling because he’s walking with Jesus,” Yamanaka said. “He preached the word and I know he couldn’t wait to be with the Lord.”
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.